Preview

Mar

2025

Preview: Top vs. Bottom as Liverpool face Southampton

Anfield plays host to an intriguing match this weekend as Premier League leaders Liverpool take on bottom-of-the-table Southampton.

By Sam McGuire

At a glance, it might not seem like the case, but this has the potential to be a season-defining clash, for both sides.

What is at stake

Liverpool, the best team in the world right now having beaten the champions of England, Spain, Germany and France, find themselves 13 points clear at the top of the table. They put in a remarkable shit on Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes to claim a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.

The second-leg is at Anfield next week. The temptation might be to focus on that tie, but Arne Slot will be determined to keep his players focused on the Premier League.

A win for the Reds here would move them 16 points clear at the summit, albeit having played two more games than their nearest rivals Arsenal. Psychologically though, this could be massive.

It heaps all of the pressure onto the Gunners ahead of their match against Manchester United.

Three points for Liverpool might not win them the league on Saturday afternoon, but it could play a huge role in Arsenal throwing in the towel.

For Southampton, a loss would all but guarantee their return to the Championship. They are the worst team in the Premier League with nine points from 27 games. They will probably get more points than that infamous Derby County team (11) but not by too much.

A win could breathe life into their flailing campaign. And prolong the belief that they can avoid the drop.

Salah farewell tour continues

If this is to be Mohamed Salah’s final season with Liverpool, he’s going out in style.

The three-time Golden Boot winner leads the way in the Premier League for goals (25) and assists (17). He’s on course to shatter the record for most goal involvements. The current record for a 38-game season is 44 while Alan Shearer and Andy Cole finished their 42-game campaigns with 47 goal involvements.

If Salah chips in with six more goal involvements, he steals their crown and becomes the most productive player in Premier League history. The scene is set for him to do it against the worst team in the league too.

Clean sheets

The modern day game is filled with data. One metric that is often overlooked is clean sheets.

Liverpool lead the way with 12 and they’re top of the Premier League table. Southampton have managed just two this season and they’re rooted to the bottom. Only Leicester City (one) have kept fewer shutouts.

It sounds simple, but the more clean sheets you keep, the easier it is to pick up points. Southampton need to find some resiliency, sooner rather than later, if they’re to get anything from this season. Across their last three outings, they have conceded 11 goals. They have conceded the most goals in the entire Premier League (65). They’re up against the team with the most goals (66).

Injuries for both sides

Liverpool could well be without Cody Gakpo again. The Dutchman missed the game against PSG despite travelling with the squad. The Reds are still without Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, meaning Slot can’t rotate his defence much. This is something that will likely be playing on his mind ahead of the game against PSG.

Southampton, meanwhile, are without former Liverpool player Adam Lallana. Jan Bednarek, Lesley Ugochukwu and Ryan Fraser are also expected to miss out.

Prediction

If Liverpool are serious about getting this Premier League title wrapped up, three points should be a formality against Southampton. So we’re going with a 3-0 win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Premier League game with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Chelsea visit Copenhagen in the Conference League

The odds-on favourites for the Europa Conference League have been struggling domestically, but they should still be too strong for FC København.

By Ian King

Recent form

Losing to Brighton in the FA Cup made the Europa Conference League Chelsea’s only hope of silverware this season, and they’re still the odds-on favourites to win this tournament overall. But recent form has been mixed, with West Ham, Wolves and Southampton (15th, 17th and 20th in the Premier League respectively) the only teams they’ve beaten in the League since before Christmas.

FC København are top of the Superliga by a point and haven’t lost domestically since the 14th September, though it should be added that the Danish season has a two and a half month winter break. They finished 18th in the Europa Conference League megagroup, winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 2.

European pedigree

These two have only met once in European competition before. In the 2010/11 Champions League Round of 16, they played a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge before Chelsea won the return match 2-0 in Copenhagen. FC København got through to the Round of 16 of the Champions League last season too, qualifying alongside Bayern Munchen while eliminating Galatasaray and Manchester United. They were beaten by Manchester City. Chelsea won the Champions League in 2021. How they got from this to being in this competition in the space of four years is a long and complicated story.

Key players

Cole Palmer has been the glue that has held this Chelsea team together this season. He’s their joint-highest scorer, but he was left out of their squad for the group stages. He’s back in now. Christopher Nkunku is the other joint-top scorer with Palmer because he’s scored seven in this very competition. He’s been coming in for a lot of criticism, perhaps a big performance in a higher profile European match might silence some of that.

FC København have an English connection in the form of goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who is on loan from West Ham. He played six games for England’s U20s, and also represented Bermuda at youth level.

Team News

Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile are all close to returning from injury, but may not quite be ready in time. Enzo Maresca may well err on the side of caution for a winnable-looking European match such as this. Their other injuries are longer term.

Andreas Cornelius, Lukas Lerager, Nicolai Boilsen and Roony Bardghji are all injury doubts for FC København, while Jordy ‘Son of Henrik’ Larsson missed their last match at Aalborg, and it’s not known whether he’ll be back for this one.

Prediction

Chelsea have been struggling in the Premier League since before Christmas, but the Europa Conference League has been their happy place. With six wins out of six in the megagroup, they’re clear favourites to win this tournament. FC København beat Manchester United 4-3 at home in last year’s Champions League, but the gulf is huge and the inclusion of Cole Palmer alone a potential game-changer. 2-0 Chelsea, and a reasonably uneventful evening.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Europa Conference League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings, and a new super-intuitive knockout stage bracket. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Manchester United face Real Sociedad in the Basque Country

After losing to Fulham in the FA Cup on penalties, the Europa League means more than ever to Manchester United this season.

By Ian King

Two sides with little else to play for

Elimination from the FA Cup on penalty kicks has hit Manchester United hard. The Europa League is now their only chance of silverware this season, but it’s not just that. They also now need to win this tournament to qualify for any form of European football next season, and considering the state of their finances the revenue from that is something they need more than ever. Real Sociedad have been up and down all season but their recent form hasn’t been great, with five defeats from their last seven matches in LaLiga as well as a recent elimination from the Copa Del Rey against Real Madrid.

Previous Meetings

The good news for Rúben Amorim is that Manchester United have only lost once in six previous matches against Real Sociedad. This was a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in September 2022. United won the return match in San Sebastian by the same score. That win also marked the only time that Real Sociedad have ever scored in a competitive match against United, with United having won three previous meetings with a clean sheet and two goalless draws.

Key players

Nayef Aguerd has been a rock at the centre of the Real Sociedad defence this season since joining on loan from West Ham They’ve been dependent on this. With just 23 goals in 26 league matches, they’re the third-lowest scorers in the whole of LaLiga despite being 9th in the table. As for Manchester United… is it cheating to mention Bruno Fernandes again? It’s felt as though he’s been the bolt that has stopped them from completely falling apart in recent weeks.

*LaLiga 2024/25 stats – Real Sociedad don’t score many, don’t concede many*

Team News

Harry Maguire is another fresh injury doubt for United after limping off against Fulham. Patrick Dorgu is suspended from domestic competitions after being sent off against Ipswich, but could return for this match. Seventeen-year-old Chido Obi is ineligible after they failed to register him in their revised Europa League squad list that was submitted last month.

Real Sociedad have a number of injuries. Jon Pacheco remains injured and isn’t expected to return until later this month, while Arsen Zakharyan has joined him. Star players Sheraldo Becker, Takefusa Kubo and Aguerd are all available after missing their recent defeat at Barcelona through suspension.

Prediction

Manchester United looked as flaccid as ever against Fulham at the weekend and even their recent wins have looked some distance short of impressive, but they really do need a result from this match to take back to Old Trafford for the second leg. Considering Real Sociedad’s issues in front of goal this season and the fact that they’ve only ever scored once in six previous meetings – which would be no more than a statistical anomaly were it not for the fact that four of these meetings have been in the last four years – a goalless draw and a tense second leg feels realistic.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Europa League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings, and a new super-intuitive knockout stage bracket. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Spurs go to Alkmaar in repeat of League Phase fixture

AZ Alkmaar host Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League Round of 16 first-leg tie at the AFAS Stadion.

By Matt Smith

Ange Postecoglou’s side are facing their final opportunity to win a trophy with the Premier League out of reach and them being out of every other competition. AZ have already reached a domestic final this season, but the Europa League is the real test for them.

Spurs will have confidence heading into this game having faced AZ earlier in the campaign, securing a 1-0 victory thanks to a Richarlison penalty.

Alkmaar without attacking quartet

Alkmaar are expected to be without attacking quartet Mexx Meerdink, Ruben van Bommel, Jayden Addai and Sven Mijnans for the home leg against Tottenham in the Europa League.

Former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott has been in and out of the side over the last few months, but with fewer options going forward, he could cement a regular place in the starting XI for the time being.

Former Spurs man flying for Alkmaar

Tottenham sold young striker Parrott to Alkmaar in the summer transfer window, and they could live to regret that after being drawn against them in this competition. The Republic of Ireland international has struck 17 times in all competitions this season, and he’s been a key provider in the Europa League.

Parrott has struck four times in Europe this term, providing a singular assist, scoring three times in his last four games in the competition. The 23-year-old may have a little extra motivation on Thursday night, looking to prove a point against his former club.

Tottenham dealt Kulusevski blow

Reports emerged earlier this week that Dejan Kulusevski had suffered a foot injury, with Postecoglou dealt yet another blow. Later confirmed by the club, the Swedish international had already posted a picture online wearing a protective boot.

In better news, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Dominic Solanke appear to be edging closer to full fitness, with Postecoglou’s squad starting to get back in better shape overall.

Maddison to step up again

If Kulusevski is unavailable, Tottenham will need James Maddison to step up once again in the attacking midfield position. The England international scored and provided an assist against Hoffenheim in the final League Phase match.

No player has produced more assists than Maddison for Spurs in the Europa League this season, and with Kulusevski potentially unavailable, the pressure will be on him to be the creative option in the middle of the park for Postecoglou’s side.

Prediction

Playing away from home in the opening leg, a draw wouldn’t be the worst for Spurs. The north London outfit have plenty of games to play before the international break, so we could see some rotation.

We’re going for a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Mar

2025

Preview: Heavyweights collide as PSG host Liverpool

Two of the most in-form teams in Europe are set to square off in the UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16 as French champions PSG face Premier League leaders Liverpool.

By Neel Shelat

An entertaining open game in the offing

Especially in recent years, clashes between Europe’s very best teams have often been fairly cagey affairs. However, both Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool’s performances this season suggest that their meeting will really live up to the billing. They are the top scorers in their respective leagues by sizable margins and have also averaged over 2 goals scored per game in the UEFA Champions League.

One of the keys to Liverpool’s success under Arne Slot has been their ability to deal serious damage in transition, so they certainly will not mind an end-to-end affair at the Parc des Princes. Although Luis Enrique is generally thought of as a more control-oriented coach, he too has shown a willingness to let things open up in big games of late, so both sides could well go at it with hammer and tongs.

Dembélé and Salah: two of the world’s most in-form attackers

A big reason why both teams won’t mind letting the game open up is that they will back their star attackers to make the difference when given the opportunity to run at goal. Ousmane Dembélé and Mohamed Salah are arguably the two most in-form players in the world right now, and will surely be competing for the next Ballon d’Or at this rate.

*Domestic league stat comparison, Dembélé vs. Salah*

Although Salah’s numbers look better over the course of the season, the French forward has been on an absolute tear of late after being deployed in a central role as the answer to PSG’s striker issues. He has scored a whopping 21 goals in his last 18 appearances across all competitions, just a few more than the Egyptian international’s 17 in the same period.

PSG’s scintillating form

Paris Saint-Germain are the most in-form team among the Champions League’s last 16. They have won 19 and drawn the other two of their last 21 matches across all competitions, with the list of results including a 4-2 triumph over Manchester City, three wins over Monaco including one in the French Super Cup and a 10-0 aggregate thumping of Brest in the UCL playoff that got them to this tie.

Could this be the season PSG break their UCL curse?

Paris Saint-Germain have famously never won Europe’s premier continental competition despite billions of Euros’ worth of investment in recent years under Qatari ownership. They faltered on the final hurdle in 2020 and subsequently looked to assemble an all-star squad including an attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, but the iconic trophy remained elusive.

With each of those players having now left the club, this season marks the beginning of a new era for PSG. Indeed, Luis Enrique is among many who believe that they are a better team now, but only time can tell whether they will miss some star power in the Champions League knockouts.

Prediction

With little to separate the two sides, this tie should be expected to go down to the wire. A score draw will set up an equally exciting second leg at Anfield.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings, and a new super-intuitive knockout stage bracket. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Benfica and Barcelona go again in the Champions League

Benfica and Barcelona meet for the second time in this season’s Champions League with a place in the quarter-finals on the line this time.

By Graham Ruthven

High expectations

Nine goals were shared between Benfica and Barcelona the last time they met in this season’s Champions League with the Catalans leaving Lisbon with a famous 5-4 win which saw them score three goals in the closing stages.

The Portuguese side have made a habit of generating such excitement in the Champions League this season having made the last 16 with a 4-3 aggregate win over Monaco. Bruno Lage would surely settle for something calmer on Wednesday.

Barcelona, however, aren’t involved in many calm games. They were the top scorers of the league phase, netting 28 goals in just eight matches, and come into Wednesday’s fixture against Benfica having scored eight goals in their last two outings.

Benfica also enter the last 16 tie in strong form, winning seven of their last eight in all competitions. They have also scored in all but one of their home games this season. Barcelona will be tested.

Key players

Vangelis Pavlidis has scored an impressive seven goals in nine Champions League matches, making him one of the most prolific forwards in the competition so far this season. The Greek will be a big threat in behind Barcelona’s high defensive line.

Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Ángel Di María will also carry a threat in the wide areas, although the latter is carrying a knock and might have to start Wednesday’s game on the bench.

At the back, Nicolás Otamendi and Anatoliy Trubin will have to be in top form to keep Barcelona’s incredible attacking line at arm’s length. Benfica might need some fortune on their side to get through the game.

Barca have an array of attacking talent, most of whom could make the difference at the Estadio da Luz. Two of the top four scorers in this season’s Champions League are Barcelona players with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha combining for 17 goals.

Lamine Yamal continues to get better and better with the teenage sensation set to start on the right side of the Barcelona attacking. His dribbling ability and natural creativity makes him so difficult to play against.

Ronald Araújo is expected to keep his place in central defence alongside Pau Cubarsí, but can Barca keep things together at the back when so many opponents have been able to expose them defensively this season?

Team news

Florentino Luís will miss out through injury for Benfica with Alexander Bah, Manu Silva, Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches also sidelined for the Portuguese side. Di María could also miss out.

Bruma, however, will return to the fold after a three-game ban carried over from the Europa League when he was a Braga player. The Portuguese international could start in the attacking line if Di María is absent.

Gavi missed the weekend win over Real Sociedad due to illness, but should be available to start against Benfica on Wednesday. The 20-year-old could come into Barca’s midfield unit for the match.

Andreas Christensen is injured again after suffering another calf strain while Marc-André Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal are still working their way back from long-term injuries.

Prediction

We think there will be goals, again, and that Barca will take home a narrow advantage to defend in next week’s second leg: Benfica 2-3 Barcelona

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings, and a new super-intuitive knockout stage bracket. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Arsenal travel to PSV in the Champions League Round of 16

The ‘new’ Champions League moves into its ‘old’ format now: two legs, no do-overs, win and in or give up the ghost and wait until next year. The one intriguing alteration: teams can already map out their route to the final from this point on, and Arsenal might feel aggrieved at their potential path.

By Karl Matchett

Tough side of the draw

Flip a coin as to whether you see foresight as a motivational factor or a mood-killer – it’ll probably depend on your own team and their possible options. For Arsenal, that means if they come through a last-16 tie against PSV, they know lying in wait will be either giant from Madrid, then probably Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain. None of those are easy, but it’s the Champions League: it’s not supposed to be easy!

Focus on the job in hand

For Mikel Arteta and his underperforming squad, there’s a different response too: your so-called easy game is this one. PSV are not just in one of the weaker top leagues in Europe, they’re also wildly out of form themselves.

But it’s time for the Gunners to forget about visions of glory right now; instead, they need to concentrate on the “one step at a time” approach, the methodology of just getting the job done which lies ahead of them – especially considering they haven’t done that in three of their last four matches, beating only relegation certainties Leicester since that thumping 5-1 win over Man City. Until consistency is back on the agenda, forget talk of trophies.

Recent form

PSV still sit second in the Eredivisie, but they have fallen to eight points off Ajax following a run of one win in seven in the league, and just two wins in eight in a packed fixture list across all competitions since the start of February. Arsenal played only five times in that period, winning twice, while in Europe their record was strong in the league phase: six wins from eight saw them finish third.

Team news

Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi are the big absentees for PSV, but they’re also without Serginio Dest and ex-Arsenal striker Lucas Pérez, now a 36-year-old veteran who has just joined on a short-term deal. On-loan Man United man Tyrell Malacia may also be left out.

Arsenal are missing forward foursome Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is still absent for the long haul too. Mikel Merino seems set to continue up front.

Key player

If Arsenal want any chance at real success this year, they need Martin Ødegaard to step up again and rediscover top form. Naturally for a player as creative as him, he needs great movement ahead of him to really maximise his talent, but the captain simply has to find a way. Compared to Europe’s other midfielders he’s 91st percentile for shots, 98th percentile for chance creation. Make it count.

*Ødegaard player traits – comparison against similar players in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues*

Prediction

Over two legs, this is an Arsenal victory all the way – there’s an argument to say it’s the most one-sided tie of the last 16: PSV 1 Arsenal 2.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Mar

2025

Preview: Madrid derby to set the tone on opening day of UCL Round of 16

There are a good few thrilling ties in store in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16, but none will likely be as fierce as the battle between Madrid rivals Real and Atlético.

By Neel Shelat

Draws galore in recent derbies

There has been incredibly little to separate the two Madrid giants over the last year or so. Each of the last three meetings between these two teams has ended in a 1-1 draw, while the two cup matches in early 2024 required extra time to settle each tie.

Evidently, goals have been flowing in recent Madrid derbies. In fact, neither side has managed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 10 clashes. Across that period, the goals per game averages out at 3.3.

Atleti out to end rotten UCL record against Real

Atlético Madrid have never won a UEFA Champions League knockout tie against their local rivals. They have come across Los Blancos four times in the competition, with all the meetings coming in a three-year stretch.

The first of these matches was the famous 2014 final when Sergio Ramos’ stoppage-time header took the game to extra time, in which Carlo Ancelotti’s side eventually ran away to register a 4-1 victory. Atléti then lost to a late Chicharito goal – the only strike across two legs – in the 2014/15 quarter-finals, before suffering even more disappointment in a penalty shoot-out defeat in the 2016 final. The record UCL champions would go on to defend their title in 2017, defeating Atlético en route in the semi-final.

Los Colchoneros also fell short in the only Madrid derby tie in the old European Cup. That was all the way back in 1959, when goals from Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás decided the play-off match after a 2-2 aggregate draw in the semi-final.

Atleti did win the most recent continental meeting between these teams in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, but they will need something special to break a nine-match winless streak at the Santiago Bernabéu if they are to replicate such a result.

Big misses in Real’s midfield

Injuries and absences have been a big talking point for Real Madrid throughout the season, and this game will be no exception. While Ancelotti’s side seem to have found a way to make do without Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão, the short-term absences of Dani Ceballos and Jude Bellingham due to a hamstring issue and suspension respectively could well prove much tougher to mask.

Following Toni Kroos’ retirement, one of Real’s biggest challenges this season has been replacing his playmaking and connecting qualities in midfield. Ceballos and Bellingham have proven critical in that respect, so the hosts could be in for a frustrating night without them.

Atléti building another head of steam

Atlético do not have any major injury issues to worry about and are only expected to miss César Azpilicueta and Koke for this game. With a near full-strength squad, they have gone unbeaten for 10 matches in their second-best run of the season after the 15-match winning streak from late 2024.

Prediction

With some serious firepower in both attacks, a score draw should be expected. The 1-1 streak could well keep going.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Mar

2025

Preview: Inter Miami face road trip to Houston

Inter Miami will be seeking their first win of the new MLS season when they face Houston Dynamo in Texas on Sunday night. Lionel Messi registered assists for both goals in his team’s opener against New York City FC last week, which finished 2-2. He and teammate Luis Suárez will now be looking to get off the mark in the goals column in MLS.

By James Nalton

Messi contributing in all comps

As was the case with Inter Miami’s 2025 MLS opener against New York City, the game against Houston comes on the back of a midweek Champions Cup game against Sporting Kansas City.

Wednesday’s second leg was a much more comfortable affair compared to the first, both in terms of the weather conditions and the scoreline, as Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 win to progress 4-1 on aggregate.

Messi got on the scoresheet once again, making it two in two in the Champions Cup so far, while Suárez scored his first goal of the season.

Inter Miami are in four competitions this season, with the Club World Cup and Leagues Cup to come, and are back in Champions Cup action against Cavalier of Jamaica next week.

Their focus is currently split between two tournaments, as it might be for much of the season, but Messi’s involvement in goals has been constant, with two goals and two assists in three games across all competitions so far.

One to watch – Telasco Segovia

When Inter Miami were a goal behind and a man down against New York City last week, a goal from the 21-year-old Venezuelan rescued a point in the 10th minute of added time.

It was a coolly taken finish in the circumstances, lifted over the onrushing NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese following the pass from Messi. The type of finish you might see from Messi himself.

Segovia came off the bench in that game, but started both Champions Cup matches.

Coach Javier Mascherano obviously sees him as a key part of the team, and he could end up being the replacement for Diego Gómez who left for Brighton in the January transfer window.

Shaky defence

When Playing Out From The Back Goes Wrong took plenty of headlines in MLS last weekend, with ten goals coming from such defensive errors.

Inter Miami were involved in one of these as Jordi Alba passed straight to NYCFC forward Alonso Martínez to score.

There were other such moments that produced chances for the opposition that didn’t result in goals, so it’s an area Mascherano will have to work on if his team are to become more convincing.

Will Miami have a problem in Houston?

Dynamo have paired one of the most underrated deep-lying midfielders in the league, Artur, with one of the highest-rated young American playmakers around, Jack McGlynn, as they look to service forward and designated player Ezequiel Ponce.

McGlynn joined Houston from Philadelphia Union in the offseason in one of the league’s first cash-for-player trades.

The move made waves, especially as McGlynn was a Union homegrown player and widely considered one of the most gifted American talents on the verge of the national team.

Dynamo hope Artur and others will pick up the defensive work while McGlynn executes his Andrea-Pirlo-like-but-left-footed passing, set-piece delivery, and long shooting; though Artur’s own passing and distribution is not to be underestimated.

Prediction

Houston lost their opening game of the season against FC Dallas so will be looking for their first points. Miami seek their first win but might have to settle for a draw once again as their defence still looks vulnerable.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Preview: Barcelona looking to continue title charge against Real Sociedad

Barcelona host Real Sociedad on Sunday as they look to continue their excellent form in LaLiga. Hansi Flick’s side will be aiming to extend their run of straight wins to six in the league against La Real, who have a strong record against Barcelona in recent years.

By Matt Smith

When the two sides met earlier in the season, Real Sociedad secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Sheraldo Becker. Their last win at Camp Nou came back in 2023, and they’ll be hoping for a repeat of that result once again.

Flick could receive a defensive boost

Barcelona will be without long-term absentees Marc-André ter Stegen and Marc Bernal, but Flick shouldn’t have any fresh injury troubles to contend with.

Andreas Christensen could return for the home side after recovering from his recent fitness problem. We could see a host of changes from Barcelona after resting key stars such as Ronald Araújo, Gavi, and Robert Lewandowski in the Copa del Rey semi-final last time out.

Raphinha unstoppable for Barcelona

Brazilian winger Raphinha has been a major standout for Barcelona so far this season, contributing 20 goals and assists combined in LaLiga. The former Leeds United man has created a whopping 73 chances, more than any other player in the league.

*Raphinha’s passing stats, LaLiga 2024/25*

Only Lewandowski has contributed with more goals and assists combined in LaLiga, while he also has the highest average FotMob rating at 8.04. Raphinha has already surpassed his goals and assists tally from last season and will undoubtedly play a crucial role in Barcelona’s race for the title.

La Real hit with double suspension blow

Real Sociedad will be without both Becker and Takefusa Kubo to face Barcelona with the duo missing the game due to suspension. Igor Zubeldia will be back and available for selection, however, after serving his LaLiga ban in their previous match.

The away side could be without Arsen Zakharyan for the trip to Barcelona after he suffered a minor injury in La Real’s game against Leganés last time out. Jon Pacheco also looks set to miss out.

Zubimendi the enforcer

Although Martin Zubimendi is often known for his quality on the ball, his ability off it can sometimes go underrated. When facing a side of the quality of Barcelona, with La Real likely to have less of the possession, Zubimendi’s defensive side of the game could shine through.

The Spanish midfielder’s numbers when it comes to recoveries, tackles, and winning duels are up there with the best in LaLiga. Although comfortable in possession, Zubimendi can do the dirty side, and that will undoubtedly be imperative if they want to get a result against Barcelona.

Prediction

With Barcelona playing on their own turf, it’s difficult to see past a victory for Flick’s side. Real Sociedad have only conceded on average 0.9 goals per game, fewer than Barcelona, so it should still be a tight affair. We’re going for a 2-1 victory to Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.