Match Preview: Saturday 05/05/2007 20:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 33
REAL SOCIEDAD - FC BARCELONA

Anoeta, San Sebastian – Capacity: 32.000
Referee: Teixeira Vitiens


Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1): Bravo - Lopez Rekarte, Juanito, Lopez, Garrido - Garitano, Aranburu - Xabi Prieto, Rivas, Savio - Kovacevic - Manager: Miguel Angel Lotina


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Gio - Iniesta, Xavi, Deco - Messi, Eto´o, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Preview:

Basque outfit Real Sociedad (19th/27 points) host La Liga leaders FC Barcelona (1st/62 points) in a crucial encounter at Aneota tonight.


While both team´s situations could not even be more different, they both need the 3 points desperately. FC Barcelona have to win to secure La Liga´s top spot after this weekend and could mount a lot of pressure on the two direct rivals, FC Sevilla and Real Madrid, who meet at Bernabeu tomorrow.


Real Sociedad had a bad start to the season, not being able to win one single match un til the middle of December. Coach Jose Mari Bakero had been sacked and replaced by former Espanyol coach Miguel Angel Lotina. Lotina managed to stabilize the defence but the team managed only to score 28 goals in 32 matches. In a period of 6 weeks from mid-January to the end of February Real Sociedad scored only 1 goal. Fortunately, their fortune changed and the Basques won 3 out of their last 5 games and gained hope again, to avoid the drop. There are only 3 points difference from safety.


Frank Rijkaard will be without Deco and therefore edmilson will probably start instead. Zambrotta will start on the right, with thuram and Puyol as partners in central defence. Not sure, if Sylvinho or gio will start as left backs. With Deco out, Edmilson is in, who will anchor the midfield, partnerred by Xavi and Iniesta. The attacking line is set: Messi, etto´o and Ronaldinho.


Real Sociedad will have Darko Kovacevic and Mikel Aranburu back in the team. Kovacevic will spearhead the Real Sociedad attack and Mikel Aranburu will bring some steel to the Sociedad midfield trying to step the Barca engine already at the middle of the pitch.


My Prediction:
Today is D-Day and a loss of points forbidden. Barca have shown some away weakness, but to become Spanish Champions for the third consecutive time, the team has to win at Anoeta. If not there, where? Real Sociedad's Anoeta stadium has proven to be a happy place for FC Barcelona as they have lost only 3 games in 13 visits since the stadium opened in 1993. Barca coach Rijkaard has yet to lose a game in San Sebastian. But a draw is definetely not on my agenda and not enough this time.


It would be a perfect situation, to come back with 3 points to Catalunya, knowing, whatever the result tomorrow in Bernabeu will be, that Barca will still be top of the League.


I have the sneaking feeling that it will be easier than people will belive. I can see Barca winning comfortably and extending the lead to 3 points to Sevilla and 4 points to Real Maddrid, because the Anadalucians and the Merengues will draw tomorrow!


Eto´o and Dinho score:


Real Sociedad - FC Barcelona 0-2



Visca el Barca!