Villarreal and Real Sociedad Clash in Crucial La Liga Showdown

VILLARREAL, Spain — Villarreal will host Real Sociedad on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 3:15 p.m. (local time) in a vital La Liga match as both teams aim for European football next season.

The Yellow Submarine currently sits fifth in La Liga, which has been confirmed as a Champions League qualifying position, while Real Sociedad is ninth, just two points shy of the eighth spot held by Mallorca. Villarreal comes off a 2-1 victory against Real Betis, reflecting a resurgence with seven points from their last three matches.

With a record of 14 wins, nine draws, and seven defeats, Villarreal is six points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao and three ahead of sixth-placed Real Betis. The Champions League remains the team’s primary goal, and a win against Sociedad could be critical in solidifying their position.

“We know the stakes are high. Every match counts toward our ultimate goal,” Villarreal coach Quique Setién stated. “Real Sociedad is a strong team, and we must be at our best.”

Villarreal, however, has struggled at home this season, winning only five of their 14 league matches at Estadio de la Ceramica. In contrast, Real Sociedad has also had difficulty on the road, gathering just 18 points from 15 games.

Real Sociedad aims to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 loss to Mallorca, which ended their four-game unbeaten streak. Despite sitting well behind the top five, they are only two points away from eighth place. “We still have a chance to fight for Europe, but we need consistency in our performances,” coach Imanol Alguacil said.

Scoring has been a challenge for Sociedad this season with only 30 goals, one of the lowest in the league. Conversely, Villarreal has found the back of the net 53 times this term, showcasing their offensive capabilities. Earlier this season, Sociedad defeated Villarreal 1-0 in their first meeting.

In terms of squad news, Villarreal is set to welcome back midfielder Vicente Iborra after his suspension but will still be without several injured players, including Alberto Moreno and Geronimo Rulli. The possible absence of defender Alfonso Pedraza could lead to a shift in the starting lineup.

Sociedad will miss Mikel Merino due to suspension, alongside other injury concerns, which include Barrenetxea and Zubimendi. The team hopes to have Adnan Januzaj back for selection following fitness tests.

The predicted starting lineups for Villarreal include: Luiz Júnior; Femenía, Foyth, L. Costa, S. Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Parejo, Suárez; Barry, and Pérez. Meanwhile, Sociedad is expected to field: Remiro; Aramburu, Martin, Elustondo, Munoz; Sucic, Benat; Kubo, Marin, S. Gomez; Oyarzabal.

With both teams facing injury woes, experts anticipate a closely contested match. Statistical analyses suggest Villarreal holds a slight advantage, with a probability of 61.8% for a home win, while Sociedad has an 8.8% chance of victory.

“It’s a crucial match for both teams, and I expect a tightly fought encounter,” Setién added. “Every point could make a difference in the standings.”