Sociedad vs Ajax Preview, Predictive Analysis, and Top Wagers

Thursday Night Showdown: Real Sociedad entertain Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League. The Dutch side sit atop the Group A standings, while the hosts linger at the bottom with only four points.

Real Sociedad's Recent Form

A turbulent start to the season saw Real Sociedad muster just two victories in their initial 11 fixtures. However, their recent form has made amends, tallying five wins in their last eight outings across multiple competitions. A 1-0 road win at Girona and a 2-1 success over Maccabi Tel Aviv in Belgrade were followed by a home defeat to Osasuna. A string of back-to-back away victories ensued, with a 2-0 triumph at Sevilla before a 1-0 loss to Viktoria Plzen in Europe. Their home form was on display in a 1-0 victory over Barcelona, featuring 19 shots and 2.02 xG, followed by a 5-0 Copa del Rey triumph against Jove Espanyol, and a lackluster 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

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Team News - Real Sociedad

Right-back Álvaro Odriozola, central midfielder Urko González, and right-back Hamari Traoré are out of action, while promising young striker Orri Oskarsson is doubtful due to injury. Mikel Oyarzabal, the focal point of their attack, will be key in this fixture despite only scoring two goals this season.

Real Sociedad's Motivation

A win is imperative for the Basque side to break into the top 24 spots that grant passage to the next phase of the competition. They may employ a more pragmatic approach against Ajax, as demonstrated in their 1-0 victory over Barcelona with just 30% possession.

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Ajax's Recent Form

Ajax have had a successful season, recovering impressively from last term's struggles. They have only suffered a single defeat in 21 outings across all competitions. Their Europa League campaign started with a commanding 4-0 win over Besiktas, followed by a 3-0 victory at nine-man Qarabag on matchday three. Notable recent results include a 2-0 league victory at Feyenoord, a thrilling 3-2 home win over PSV, a 5-0 home rout of Maccabi Tel Aviv, and a 2-2 draw at FC Twente. Sunday's match against PEC Zwolle ended in a comfortable 2-0 home win.

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Team News - Ajax

Chuba Akpom and Wout Weghorst are expected to rejoin the attack after coming off the bench in their last game. However, the Dutch side must address injuries to Julian Rijkhoff, Gastón Ávila, Sivert Heggheim Mannsverk, Amourricho van Axel Dongen, and Mika Godts.

Ajax's Motivation

Ajax aim to maintain their impressive European form and would view a draw as a positive result in this encounter. Their upcoming domestic match against NEC Nijmegen should not distract the squad, enabling them to focus fully on their Spain trip.

Key Stats

Real Sociedad: Five wins and three losses in their last eight matches
Sociedad: Six losses in their last nine home matches
Ajax: One loss in 21 matches this season across all competitions
Ajax: Weghorst has scored four goals in his last nine matches
Ajax: Their last 16 matches have seen 45 goals

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Verdict

With Ajax impressing this season and Real Sociedad struggling at home, backing the Dutch side for a victory looks promising.

Best Bet: Ajax win/draw double chance at 1.90

Value Bet: Ajax win at 4.05

Anytime Goalscorer Tip: Weghorst at 3.90

Real Sociedad have found form recently, winning five out of their last eight matches across various competitions.
However, they have struggled at home, losing six out of their last nine home fixtures.
Ajax have been impressively consistent this season, with only one defeat in 21 outings across all competitions.
Wout Weghorst has scored four goals in his last nine matches for Ajax.
Ajax's upcoming match against NEC Nijmegen may not distract their focus, allowing them to maintain their European form.
Given Real Sociedad's home inconsistency and Ajax's impressive season, backing Ajax for a victory or draw looks promising.
As a value bet, one could consider Ajax winning the match at odds of 4.05.
For an anytime goalscorer tip, Weghorst at odds of 3.90 could be a consideration.