Real Sociedad vs Valencia 30/09/20

30 September 2020

Real Sociedad and Valencia go head-to-head at the Reale Seguros Stadium in a potentially high-scoring La Liga affair. Indeed, three of their previous four top-flight H2Hs held at this venue have produced over 2.5 goals.

After playing out two consecutive draws with Real Madrid and Real Valladolid, respectively, the hosts have kick-started their La Liga season by beating newly-promoted Elche 3-0 on the road last time out. Curiously, all four league goals they’ve scored so far this term have come in the second half of play, with three arriving beyond the 60-minute mark. ‘La Real’ can hope to extend an unbeaten league start as they’ve avoided defeat in all three of their previous top-flight H2Hs. Notably, Imanol Alguacil’s men have kept a clean sheet in two of those three clashes, which was, however, the case in just 31.58% of their La Liga home outings back in 2019/20 (6/19). Yet, Real Sociedad registered a clear majority (60.71%) of their home league goals conceded last season in the second half of play (17/28). 

On the other hand, the visitors have picked up a little bit of everything from their opening three La Liga fixtures (W1, D1, L1), conceding the opener on two of those occasions. Notably, all three of Valencia’s league games this term have seen both teams on the scoresheet, with four of their five goals conceded across those matches arriving before the hour mark. Slow starts away from home were tormenting ‘Los Murciélagos’ throughout the entire 2019/20 campaign, as they shipped the opening goal in 15 (78.95%) of 19 La Liga trips back last season. Unfortunately for Javi Garcia, his men avoided defeat just five times across those 15 games (W2, D3, L10).