With a difficult season almost over, Barcelona hopes to regain some dignity as it fights for second place in the La Liga table, hosting European qualification contenders Real Sociedad on Monday in Catalonia.
Barça has endured a topsy-turvy season, without a trophy and occupying third place in the Spanish top flight standings. A humiliating defeat to Girona last time out left their small Catalan neighbors above them in the table, but a draw with Alavés earlier in the weekend left Girona vulnerable, and Barça could regain second place with a victory here.
After Barcelona’s hierarchy convinced Xavi to stay on recently, there are now reports that the Barca boss could have his job in jeopardy if the club fails to secure second place.
The challenge will be complicated, since they will face Real Sociedad, seventh in the standings, in the middle of the battle for qualification to the Europa League. They are just one point behind sixth-placed Real Betis and could take that spot away with any result here.
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Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad prediction, odds
- Lean Money Line: Draw (+280)
- Score prediction: Barcelona 1-1 Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad are not in the form necessary to beat a team like Barcelona away from home, but they are absolutely the type of team that can achieve a draw with few goals. La Real almost got a result against Real Madrid two games back in a narrow 1-0 defeat, limiting Los Blancos to just a few precious chances and with a goal disallowed on VAR.
In that match, Real Madrid was looking towards the Champions League semi-final, and Barcelona also has little at stake here. Sure the club will want to finish as high as possible in the table, but that is often little consolation for a group of players who lack the connection to the club to play for something as intangible as a number on paper.