La Liga 25/26: Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Preview, Prediction, Live Score & Lineups
The hosts, FC Barcelona, enter Matchday 7 in formidable form, sitting near the top of the table after a strong start (5 wins, 1 draw). Under Manager Hansi Flick, they have shown incredible scoring power. Conversely, Real Sociedad has struggled for consistency early in the 2025/26 campaign, finding themselves in the bottom half of the table despite a recent morale-boosting win over Mallorca. This clash at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is critical for Real Sociedad to turn their season around and for Barça to keep pace with the league leaders.
Kick-Off Time
Competition: La Liga (2025/2026 Season) - Matchday 7
Kick-off (GMT): 16:30, Sunday, September 28, 2025
(Note: The actual match time in Spain is 18:30 CEST, which converts to 16:30 GMT)
Stadium, Location: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
Match Facts and Key Numbers
Barça’s Scoring Dominance: Barcelona leads the league in goals scored and shots, demonstrating an elite attacking output under Flick.
Real Sociedad’s Recent Struggles: The visitors have lost three of their first six matches, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities (8 goals conceded).
Head-to-Head Trend: Barcelona has been dominant in recent meetings, winning three of the last five clashes.
Clean Sheet Indicator: A key historical note is that the winning team has kept a clean sheet in the last four meetings between these two sides.
Barça's Injury Concerns: Barcelona will be without key players like goalkeeper Joan García and potentially Raphinha due to injuries, forcing tactical adjustments.
PSG Distraction: Barcelona has a huge Champions League tie against PSG coming up, which could lead Manager Flick to rotate or prioritize fitness, potentially opening the door for La Real.
Oyarzabal Threat: Real Sociedad’s captain and talisman, Mikel Oyarzabal, remains the main goal threat and will be crucial to their attacking success.
Match Prediction
While Real Sociedad traditionally offers a stern challenge, Barcelona’s current attacking form and home advantage make them the clear favorites. The combination of key injuries for Barça and the upcoming PSG match could introduce a degree of unpredictability, but the Catalan side is expected to manage the game effectively. Look for the pace of players like Lamine Yamal (if he plays) and the clinical finishing of Robert Lewandowski to be the difference-makers.
