LaLiga 26/27 · Round 8 ·
Real Sociedad San Sebastian vs RC Deportivo de A Coruna preview: Real Sociedad host Deportivo with both sides level on points
Real Sociedad welcome Deportivo to the Reale Arena with the two teams level on 10 points and separated by a single league position. The away side's attack has been the sharper of the two, averaging 1.7 goals on the road against a home attack stuck at 0.7 per home match.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats.
Who is missing for each side
Deportivo's absence list carries the bigger weight, with forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ruled out through injury. Aubameyang has scored 5 goals, 50% of the side's goals in this competition, so his absence removes half of Deportivo's scoring output. Midfielder Marc Casado is also unavailable for the visitors. Real Sociedad are without defenders Alvaro Odriozola and Jon Aramburu, both listed with injuries, but neither is among their leading scorers or creators.
The players carrying each attack
With Aubameyang out, Deportivo's next available scorer is Zakaria Eddahchouri, who has 1 goal from 4 matches this season. Midfielder Luismi Cruz and forward Mario Carreno have each provided 2 assists. For Real Sociedad, midfielder Luka Sucic leads the scoring with 3 goals from 7 matches, a 33% share of the team's goals in this competition. Ander Barrenetxea has added 2 goals, while Job Ochieng has 3 assists from just 4 matches.
Who arrives in better shape
Real Sociedad hold the better recent league form, sitting 6th in the form table with 10 points from their last six matches, while Deportivo are 7th with 9 points. The home side's latest league result was a win, while Deportivo drew their most recent league match. In their last five matches in all competitions, Real Sociedad have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2, while Deportivo have won 1, drawn 3 and lost 1. Both sides last played 8.9 days ago.
A tight table with little between them
Deportivo sit 7th with 10 points, one place and zero points ahead of Real Sociedad in 8th, also on 10 points. At home, Real Sociedad have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their 3 matches, with a goal difference of -2. Deportivo's away record is 1 win, 2 draws and no defeats from 3 matches, with a goal difference of +1.
A history that favours the hosts
Across 10 meetings from 2013 to 2018, Real Sociedad have won 4 times, Deportivo once, with 5 draws. The goal difference is 16-11 in favour of Real Sociedad. In the 5 meetings at this ground, Real Sociedad have won 2, Deportivo have won 0, with 3 draws. Their most recent meeting, in 2018, ended in a 5-0 Real Sociedad win.
Deportivo's away attack is the sharper
Deportivo hold a large attacking edge, averaging 1.7 goals per away match across 3 away matches, better than the league average for an away side on the road. Real Sociedad manage just 0.7 goals per home match across 3 home matches, worse than the league average for a home side at home. The home side's season average of 1.3 goals per match is also below Deportivo's 1.4.
Deportivo's defence is marginally better
Deportivo hold a marginal defensive edge, conceding 1.3 goals per away match across 3 away matches, better than the league average conceded by an away side on the road. Real Sociedad also concede 1.3 goals per home match across 3 home matches, level with the league average conceded by a home side at home. Across the whole season, Deportivo concede 1.1 goals per match, clearly better than the league average, while Real Sociedad concede 1.9.
Real Sociedad test the goalkeeper more
Real Sociedad average 4.43 shots on goal per match, more than Deportivo's 3.71. The home side also sees more of its shots blocked, averaging 3.43 blocked shots per match against 1.43 for Deportivo. Real Sociedad's shots off goal average is 3.43 per match, slightly higher than Deportivo's 3.29.
Late goals are a theme for both
Deportivo's most dangerous spell is the final 15 minutes, where they score 40% of their goals. Real Sociedad also score 22% of their goals between minutes 76 and 90, though that share is level with three other 15-minute bands. The home side are most vulnerable late, conceding 38% of their goals in the 76-90 window, while Deportivo concede 25% of their goals in that same period.
Different goal environments this season
Real Sociedad's matches have been high-scoring, with 71.43% of their games going over 2.5 goals this season. Deportivo's matches have been tighter, with only 28.57% going over 2.5 goals. In their home matches, Real Sociedad have seen 66.67% go over 2.5 goals, while Deportivo's away matches have seen 33.33% go over 2.5 goals. Real Sociedad have failed to score in 42.86% of their matches, compared to 14.29% for Deportivo.
A match that may hinge on Deportivo's attack
Deportivo's away attack is the clearest signal in this preview, averaging 1.7 goals on the road against a Real Sociedad home defence that concedes 1.3 per match. The home side's own attack has been blunt at home, scoring just 0.7 goals per match. The market prices Real Sociedad as favourites, but the underlying numbers point to a tight contest. Deportivo's unbeaten away record and Real Sociedad's winless home run add further weight to the visitors' cause.