Real Sociedad vs RB Salzburg Prediction | Champions League Picks
Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty. Pictured: Mohamed-Ali Cho.
Real Sociedad vs RB Salzburg Odds
| Real Sociedad Odds | -200 |
| RB Salzburg Odds | +550 |
| Draw | +330 |
| Over / Under | 2.5 -134 / +105 |
Real Sociedad will host RB Salzburg in match week five of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday afternoon as they look to strengthen their top position in Group D.
La Real have already clinched their place in the knockout rounds and currently sit atop Group D tied with Inter at 10 points apiece, holding a three-win, one-draw record through four matches. Inter are also already through.
Meanwhile, the Red Bulls find themselves third in the group with just one win in four matches. They are mathematically eliminated from advancing to the round of 16 but can earn a Europa League spot if they are to hold onto their third-place position.
Read on for my Real Sociedad vs RB Salzburg prediction.
Real Sociedad
Regardless of the result against Salzburg, if Real Sociedad win against Inter on matchday 6, it would guarantee their spot atop Group D.
However, they won't want to leave that to chance. They currently lead Inter on a superior goal differential, so if they can either match or better Inter's result on Wednesday a draw on match day six would also ensure first place in the group.
Manager Imanol Alguacil is well aware of his team's situation and has warned his men about being complacent. He had this to say when a reporter hinted that their upcoming opponent was easy given their place in the table and how La Real already beat Salzburg 2-0 in the reverse fixture: "We’re getting confused here; next we’ll stick our chests out and start saying things when it is the game that puts everyone in their place."
Their home supporters will also help bring the energy, as Sociedad have lost just once all year in front of their home fans, and they have secured a full three points in five of their last six at Reale Arena
Moreover, Sociedad have one of the more underrated attackers in the world in Mikel Oyarzabal and Alguacil stated earlier this week that he is rounding back into form following a hamstring injury with Spain during the international break. He has nine goals in 13 starts in all competitions this season. One of those goals came against Salzburg.
RB Salzburg
Salzburg sit atop their domestic league. They are aiming to claim their 11th consecutive Austrian Bundesliga title in a row dating back to 2012. However, to their high standards, their 33 points out of a possible 45 through 15 games have been considered subpar.
Their 3-2 win this weekend in their domestic league snapped a two-game skid in all competitions and was just their third victory in their last eight matches.
With the pressure completely off RB Salzburg on Wednesday, though, due to them being eliminated from the UCL knockout rounds, it may be all that is needed to unlock manager Gerhard Stuber's young squad. The Red Bulls have the youngest starting eleven in the competition, with an average age of 21.5.
Their young age is one of the keys to their tactical game plans. Stuber instructs his side to play a very heavy press that involves constant running that only younger or highly in-shape players can maintain week in and week out.
They will look to turn Wednesday's match into a track meet and hope they are able to avoid being countered on the break—unlike they were able to in their first outing against La Real.
Real Sociedad vs RB Salzburg
Prediction
Though this game could be seen as less meaningful for Sociedad, they will not look at it that way. Winning the group could be detrimental to their life beyond the group stage. Clinching the top seed out of Group D would guarantee they avoid teams like Man City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid until later rounds.
And while Salzburg will feel their best chance at gaining a point here is turning the match wide open, Sociedad will be comfortable matching that. La Real lead the competition in high turnovers, meaning that if the Red Bulls get sloppy out of the back and are perhaps out of position due to their own press, Sociedad will take advantage and be in on goal.
So between exposure to counters and turnovers in their own defensive third, Salzburg should be overmatched against a Sociedad team that has already proven they are one of the best 16 clubs in Europe.
Back La Real on the spread.
Pick: Real Sociedad -1 (-110)
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