La Liga | Gameweek 26

Mar 2, 2025 at 3.15pm UK

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad

Match preview

Barcelona have won 17, drawn three and lost five of their 25 league games this season, picking up 54 points to finish top of the table, ahead of second-placed Real Madrid and a point clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid.

If fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao beat Atletico this weekend, the Basque side will also have to be considered as serious title contenders, with a four-horse race possible in the closing stages of the campaign.

Barcelona have won each of their last five La Liga games and are unbeaten in six, while they go into this game on the back of an impressive 4-4 draw with Atletico in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Tuesday night.

Flick's side are also challenging for Champions League glory this season and are preparing to take on Benfica in the last 16 of the tournament, with the first leg taking place in Portugal next week.

Barcelona lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad when the two sides met in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but the Catalans won 2-0 in the 2023-24 campaign.

Real Sociedad were also in Copa del Rey action earlier this week, losing 1-0 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final, but they bounced back with a 3-0 win over Leganes in the league last weekend.

Like Barcelona, Imanol Alguacil's side are fighting on three fronts this season, with the Basque side also involved in the Europa League and preparing to take on Manchester United in the last 16 of the competition.

La Real have underperformed for much of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign, but they now sit in ninth place, just one point behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.

However, they will find it incredibly difficult to finish higher than sixth, with Villarreal in fifth 10 points clear of them and Athletic Bilbao 14 points adrift in fourth, meaning they will have to win the Europa League this term to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Real Sociedad have only the 10th-best away record in La Liga this season, with 14 points from 12 games, but they face a Barcelona side that has been beaten three times at their temporary home this term.

Recent Performance

Barcelona La Liga form:DWWWWW

Barcelona form (all competitions):WWWWWD

Real Sociedad La Liga form:LLLWLW

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):WWLWWL

Team News

Barcelona will be without long-term absentees Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, while injured his right soleus muscle and is expected to be out for four weeks

Flick will make changes to the side that started against Atletico in the Copa del Rey, with Ronald Araujo, Gavi and Robert Lewandowski in line for a recall after coming off the bench last time out.

Inigo Martinez, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres are the three players likely to drop to the bench, but Frenkie de Jong's recent form should see him retain his place in the middle of midfield.

For Real Sociedad, Sheraldo Becker and Takefusa Kubo will miss Sunday's clash through suspension, but Igor Zubeldia will be available after serving his La Liga ban against Leganes last time out.

Javi Lopez is set to return at left-back after coming off the bench against Real Madrid, while Sergio Gomez should also be recalled in a wide role.

Martin Zubimendi - considered a long-term transfer target for Barcelona - will be back in the middle of midfield, while Mikel Oyarzabal is likely to get the nod over Orri Oskarsson at centre-forward.

Possible starting lineup

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, J Lopez; Barrenetxea, Marin, Zubimendi, Sucic, Gomez; Oyarzabal