Overview
It’s win-or-go-home time in the Europa League on Thursday when Real Sociedad hosts RB Leipzig. The two teams played to a 2-2 draw in Leipzig last week in the first leg of the matchup. That means they are on level footing heading into Thursday’s game, with the winner advancing to the Round of 16 and the loser being knocked out of European competition this season.
Last Game Record
As mentioned, Real Sociedad and RB Leipzig tied 2-2 in the first leg last Thursday. That was the first time the two sides have met in a competitive match. Naturally, both were in action this past weekend.
Real Sociedad suffered a surprising and disappointing 4-0 loss at the hands of Athletic Club in La Liga. Meanwhile, Leipzig went in the other direction, crushing Hertha Berlin 6-1 with five goals coming in the final 30 minutes.
Matchup Information
- 12:45 pm EST on Thursday, February 24, 2022
- San Sebastian, Spain
- Reale Arena
Real Sociedad vs RB Leipzig Betting Analysis
Real Sociedad Betting Analysis
Real Sociedad entered last week’s first leg in Leipzig in uneven form. However, the White and Blues looked like the better team for large stretches of the match, especially early.
Unfortunately for Real Sociedad, they allowed Leipzig to force the draw and then followed up that match with a humiliating and damaging 4-0 loss against Athletic Club on Sunday.
With that loss, Real Sociedad now has a negative goal differential in La Liga matches this season. Even worse, the White and Blues have conceded six goals over their last two matches. That came after a stretch of five clean sheets in six matches, albeit with another 4-0 loss to Real Betis sandwiched into that stretch.
The White and Blues need to be stout defensively because their attack leaves a lot to be desired, ranking 16th in La Liga in goals scored. The two goals they scored against Leipzig were surprising and somewhat of an anomaly based on the club’s recent form. Including Sunday’s loss to Athletic Club, the White and Blues have been shut out in four of their last six matches.
RB Leipzig Betting Analysis
RB Leipzig entered last week’s first leg with growing momentum in their domestic form. A sluggish first half caused that momentum to slow down a little before the Red Bulls managed to rescue a draw in the second half.
However, Leipzig picked up where the team left off domestically on Sunday with a 6-1 win over Hertha Berlin, giving them six wins in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Needless to say, the Leipzig attack has hit its stride after scoring six goals over the weekend, albeit with Hertha Berlin playing down a man for a significant stretch. Nevertheless, Christopher Nkunku has had a breakout season with 13 goals, and seven assists in 23 Bundesliga matches this season. The Red Bulls are also getting contributions from other areas, scoring multiple goals in eight straight matches.
Of course, Leipzig’s defensive prowess is still lacking despite giving up the fourth-fewest goals in the Bundesliga this season. The fact that they gave up two goals last week to a modest Sociedad attack is a sign that there are still issues to clean up after so much personnel turnover last summer. To be fair, while the Red Bulls have conceded seven times in their last four matches, they did have a run of three straight clean sheets right before that.
Team Updates
Real Sociedad has no new injuries to report. The club has been without forward Carlos Fernandez and left-back Nacho Monreal since the start of the season, while winger Ander Barrenetxea has been out since early January. Likewise, RB Leipzig has no significant injuries to report.
- Real Sociedad has one win in its last six matches across all competitions.
- RB Leipzig has won six of its last eight matches across all competitions.
- The first leg was the only match in Real Sociedad’s last eight matches that both teams scored.
- RB Leipzig has scored at least two goals in eight consecutive matches.
Real Sociedad vs RB Leipzig Betting Preview
The key to this match will undoubtedly be Real Sociedad’s defense. Despite scoring twice against RB Leipzig last week, the White and Blues may not be able to count on scoring more than one goal on Thursday. The silver lining is that they have a stout defense, especially at home, although when the flood gates open, things can get ugly.
After dominating the run of play in the second half of last week’s game and scoring six goals over the weekend, RB Leipzig’s attack should be full of confidence for the second leg. Nkunku and Andre Silva have both been excellent goal-scorers this season, while the likes of Dani Olmo and Emil Forsberg provide capable playmakers. However, the Red Bulls also need to remain disciplined defensively because they don’t want to fall behind on the road against a team like Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad vs RB Leipzig Betting Prediction
The latest betting news has RB Leipzig favored in this match on the road, but not by much. The Red Bulls have a moneyline of +155, while Real Sociedad’s moneyline is +165. There is also a moneyline of +235 for a draw, which would require extra time and potentially penalty kicks to decide what team advances.
Taking a road favorite in a game like this is never easy. However, RB Leipzig is surely in better form and has far more attacking talent, meaning the Red Bulls are the team that’s more likely to score multiple goals. If both teams can play anywhere close to their best, RB Leipzig should come out on top, so betting on the Red Bulls to win is the best pick in this match.
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