Valencia Hosts Real Sociedad in LaLiga Season Opener

VALENCIA, Spain — Valencia CF kicks off the LaLiga season by hosting Real Sociedad on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 9:30 PM local time at the Estadio de Mestalla. This match marks the beginning of a new campaign following last season’s finish, where Valencia landed in 12th place.

Under new manager Carlos Corberán, Valencia is eager to improve after a summer of reinforcements, including six new signings. The team recently played several friendlies, including a 1-1 draw against Marseille and a 3-0 victory over Torino during pre-season.

Real Sociedad, managed by Sergio Francisco, aims to build on their 11th-place finish from last year. They, too, have been preparing for the season with friendly matches, including draws against Yokohama FC and Rennes.

The historical record favors Valencia, who have won 67 of their 160 encounters with Real Sociedad, which has claimed 53 victories. Fans are hopeful of a strong start given the squad’s new talent, especially with the return of striker Gonçalo Guedes.

As excitement builds, temperatures in Valencia are expected to reach 29 degrees Celsius with 69% humidity during the match. In an effort to promote health, the club has banned the consumption of sunflower seeds in the stadium.

Injuries will impact both teams. Valencia will be without Correia, Dimitrievski, and Alberto Marí, while Real Sociedad will miss Gorrotxategui.

The match will be broadcast live on Movistar LaLiga TV2, and pre-match coverage will begin an hour before kickoff. Fans can stay updated online with live minute-to-minute coverage, match reports, and player interviews following the game.