Real Sociedad v RB Leipzig: Bulls can breach Basques

“Leipzig have scored at least twice in their last eight competitive games, while Real Sociedad are short of confidence after they were hammered 4-0 by Basque rivals Athletic Club.”

Back Over 1.5 Away Goals at 2.265/4

Real Sociedad v RB Leipzig
Thursday 24 February, 17:45
Live on BT Sport Extra

La Real rocked by derby drubbing

In one of their biggest games of the season, Real Sociedad came up significantly short. Imanol Alguacil’s side was second best throughout the Basque derby at Athletic Club at the weekend, and although they kept the scoresheet blank for the first three quarters of the contest, they eventually succumbed to a 4-0 defeat.

That heart-breaking result maintained La Real’s slide in La Liga, after a start to the campaign that had fans dreaming of a fantastical run at the title. They were hammered 4-0 at home by Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, and in the league they have now won just two of their last 11. They have failed to score in seven of those matches.

Indeed, there are concerns in general about the team’s firepower. Swedish striker Alexander Isak has attracted admiring glances from the Premier League and beyond, but he has only scored four goals in the league, and none of those goals have arrived in 2022. Alexander Sorloth continues to underwhelm in the big leagues – he was a flop at RB Leipzig, and he has only scored one La Liga goal this term. Were it not for the goals of Spanish international winger Mikel Oyarzabal, La Real really would be scratching around for attacking inspiration.

Isak is carrying a knock, and could miss this game, so the struggling Sorloth could spearhead the attack against his old club. Martin Zubimendi is back after missing the first leg through suspension.

Leipzig zooming towards glory

A hefty win over hapless Hertha Berlin isn’t unusual, and indeed RB Leipzig have managed to secure one on several occasions in their short Bundesliga history, but Sunday’s 6-1 victory at the Olympiastadion was the continuation of Leipzig’s best run of the season. Die Roten Bullen have now won six of their last eight games in all competitions, and they have scored at least twice in all of those matches.

It could prove to be a glorious season. Under Domenico Tedesco, RBL have regained their usual spot in the Bundesliga’s top four and they have reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. Tedesco has proven to be an excellent replacement for Jesse Marsch, who lasted just a few short months as Julian Nagelsmann’s replacement. In fairness to Marsch, replacing one of the sharpest coaching minds in world football was always going to be tough.

Leipzig’s away form has been patchy all season, but if you look at their road matches since changing coach, their only defeat in four has been a battling 3-2 defeat at Bayern, a game that saw them really take it to the record champions.

Leipzig have no fresh injury concerns, with German international defender Marcel Halstenberg their only long-term absentee.

Leipzig have the momentum

RB Leipzig are flying high under Tedesco, who has unlocked their attacking potential and provided more tactical nuance than Marsch’s back-to-basics approach. They are winning games and scoring goals, while Real Sociedad have been on the slide for a while, although they twice led in Leipzig in the first leg’s 2-2 draw.

If I had to back a side to qualify, I’d go for Leipzig at 1.875/6. However, I’m taking another route, and I’ll back the German side to score Over 1.5 Goals at 2.265/4. They have done that in their last eight competitive games, including against mighty Bayern in a 3-2 defeat. With the likes of Andre Silva, Dani Olmo and Christopher Nkunku in their forward line, Leipzig pack a punch.

Nkunku to net again?

French forward Christopher Nkunku is in the form of his life, and I can’t believe you can back him at 3.613/5 to score at any time. He scored twice in Berlin on Sunday, he found the net in the first leg, and he has scored in six of his last eight games. Overall, he has 22 goals in 33 matches in all competitions this season.

Tedesco took Nkunku off with 20 minutes left in Berlin, and has suggested that even with a heavy workload, he’ll keep starting games if he maintains his form.