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Valencia vs Real Sociedad Preview: Tips, Odds and Prediction

Date: January 19,2025 Kickoff Time: 21:00 Local Time (22:00 ET/ 12:00PT) Venue: Mestalla Stadium SportsBoom Provides La Liga betting insights in this detailed preview between Valencia and Real Sociedad, set to take place on Sunday night at the Mestalla Stadium. The home team will be in desperate need of three points heading into this encounter if they are to move out of the relegation scrap but will not have it easy against a Sociedad team that has a better head-to-head record over them.

Jimmy Modise

Sports Writer

Last Updated: 2025-01-17

Fact checked by:

Chad Nagel

Content Manager

6 minutes read

Nayef Aguerd and Hugo Guillamon//Getty Images

Table of Contents

Valencia vs Real Sociedad Preview

The best results since their last and second win in La Liga for Valencia, have been three draws, the most recent of which was against Sevilla. They failed to hold on to the lead after scoring in the 61st minute through Luis Roja’s individual effort in the penalty area when Adria Pedrosa scored in 90+3 minutes for the visitors.

The statistics overall, in that encounter favoured them. They had 53% ball possession at the end of 90 minutes, fifteen goal attempts, hit the woodwork once and ten corner kicks, all reflecting their enterprising intent on the night. Sociedad, on the other hand, will only be playing their second match of La Liga this season against their hosts, which will be preceded by an encounter against Villarreal.

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Valencia Not Backed By Bookies

Home: 27/10 (3.70) 27%
Draw: 41/20 (3.05) 32.8%
Away: 127/100 (2.27) 44.1%
*Odds courtesy of Stake, subject to change

Head-to-Head record

Valencia will be looking to turn around their poor record against Sociedad having lost twice already this season. They last beat them in the 2023/24 season in a tight encounter that resulted in a 1-0 win for them.

Last 5 Meetings

28/08/24: Real Sociedad 3-0 Valenica
16/05/24: Real Sociedad 1-0 Valenica
27/09/23: Valencia 0-1 Real Sociedad
25/02/23: Valencia 1-0 Real Sociedad
06/11/22: Real Sociedad 1-1 Valencia

Valencia Current Form – DLDDL

Ruben Baraja will be looking for a change in results, having last won seven games ago against Real Betis in a 4-2 thrashing. His team’s best results in the last five games have been three draws against Sevilla, Alaves and Espanyol, with remarkably close losses against Real Madrid and Real Valladolid who beat them 2-1 and 1-0, respectively.

Their only two wins this season were home wins against Betis and Girona, and surprisingly enough, they have only failed to score twice at the Estadio Mestalla. Baraja will have to marshal them tightly at the back then, because scoring on home turf is not a problem.

Real Sociedad v Valencia CF - LaLiga EA Sports

Key Players to Watch

Luis Rioja: Rioja increased his tally to four against Sevilla and could have won the game had his team been able to defend the lead. With the attacking impetus they showed in that game and his overall performance, he will certainly be a key player.
Cristhian Mosquera: Despite failing to help the goalkeeper not let in a goal in their 1-1 draw, Christhian Mosquera was one of the standout defender’s and was able to keep Sevilla’s attack at bay for most of the game.
Javi Guerra: His role in the middle of the park, helping in attack and defense will be crucial for his team. He got good ratings in his last game out and will most probably produce a similar performance.

Valencia Team News

Thierry Correira remains out for the rest of the season while Rafa Mir and Fran Perez will be expected to return shortly from hamstring and muscle related injuries. No suspension in the team, although Luis Rioja and several other players are one booking away from suspension.

Real Sociedad Current Form – LDWWL

Real Sociedad will be looking to improve on their four away wins this season coming up against a team that is in desperate need of a win. Imanol Alguacil’s team has scored only seven times on the road in nine games, an average of 1.2 goals per game, while conceding four times.

Most of their games on the road did not produce a lot of goals, with the highest scoring game being their 3-0 win over Leganes. The other results were all at a minimum of two goals and not more, with several 1-0 results, plus a 0-0 draw against Getafe.

Key Players to Watch

Brais Mendez: As a utility player that can switch between a midfield and striker role, Mendez’s dynamism will be crucial for Sociedad, and he might just chip in with a goal or an assist.
Sergio Gomez: The strikers will need crosses sent into the final third, and coming in from the left-wing in a 4-4-2 formation, Sergio Gomez’s contribution will be of much importance.
Aihen Munoz: Valencia showed their potency on the wings in their last game out and with Aihen Munoz holding firm in one of the wingback positions, Sociedad will be able to keep out the danger to some extent.

Real Sociedad Team News

Hamari Traore’s expected return is only towards the end of the season while Igor Zubeldia will be returning from a one match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Predicted Line-ups

Valencia: 4-4-2
Dimitrievski, Foulquier, Tarrega, Gasiorowski, Rioja, Barrenechea, Guerra, Lopez, Duro, Almeida
Real Sociedad: 4-4-2
Remiro, Aramburu, Zubeldia, Pacheco, Munoz, Gomez, Sucic, Turrientes, Kubo, Oyazarbal, Mendez

Suggested Bets

We went for a more conservative selection in our suggested bets. A combination of these and some of your own predictions will give you a decent bet slip.

Draw No Bet – Real Sociedad: Our prediction is a Real Sociedad win for this game and just in case Valencia forces a draw, your bet will be safe. This is one of the smartest markets to bet on for a team that comes in as the favourites but just might be held by their opponents. (3/5 with PinUp).
Real Sociedad Total Goals – Over 0.5: With only two clean sheets at home this season and thirteen goals conceded, we predict Real Sociedad to at least get one past their hosts. (9/25 with PinUp).
Valenica Total Goals – Under 1.5: The last time Valencia scored more than one goal against Real Sociedad was in the 2020/21 season in a 2-2, a campaign they did better in, compared to this one. Our prediction is thus under 1.5 goals. (11/50 with PinUp).

Value Bets

Our value bets favour Real Sociedad more as the better team coming into this encounter, with high odds.

Winner and Total Goals – Real Sociedad and Over 1.5: We predict a win for the visitors with a goals total of over 1.5 for the entire game. Real Sociedad have dominated the home team recently and won games convincingly. (9/4 with Betway).
Team to Win First Half – Real Sociedad: Valencia have drawn the first half twice, lost it twice and won it once in their last five home games. That is a balanced return, but we do not back them for a positive result this time around as we predict a win for Sociedad. (11/5 with Betway).
Real Sociedad to Win Both Halves – Yes: 11This value bet has the biggest odds out of our selection and is highly possible looking at the form of both teams. Our prediction is a win of both halves by the much stronger visiting team. (33/5 with Betway).

Prediction: Real Sociedad Win and Both Teams to Score

We predict a win for Real Sociedad because they are the favourite team heading into this encounter and have a better head-to-head record over Valencia. The game will not be easy for the former though, as the hosts showed the potential to put up a fight and for that reason, we think they will also score. (26/5 with Betway).

Jimmy ModiseSports Writer

Jimmy is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and has a Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies. He’s a sports fanatic of several sporting disciplines which he is well versed with.

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