Prediction: Real Sociedad vs Napoli

Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw

Best Odds: 12/1

Bookmaker: Betfair

Real Sociedad and Napoli will face each other in the Europa League this week. The Group F game at the Reale Arena is slated to kick off at 8pm UK time on Thursday and promises to be an exciting affair.

Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad made a positive start to their 2020-21 Europa League campaign last week. The Spanish club got the better of HNK Rijeka 1-0 away from home in their opening Group F game. Jon Bautista’s goal in the third minute of injury time proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Sociedad will be hopeful and confident of making it two wins out of two in the Europa League on Thursday evening when they lock horns with Italian club Napoli at the Reale Arena. Imanol Alguacil’s side will head into the match on the back of a 4-1 hammering of Huesca at home. The win saw Sociedad move to the top of the La Liga table, a point clear of Real Madrid and Granda, who are second and third respectively in the standings but have a game in hand each.

Team news:

Asier Illarramendi and Luca Sangalli will miss the match due to injuries, while there are doubts over the availability of Adnan Januzaj, Ander Barrenetxea, Martin Merquelanz, Joseba Zaldua and Igor Zubeldia.

Napoli

Napoli started their 2020-21 Europa League campaign on a disappointing note. Gennaro Gattuso’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Dutch club AZ Alkmaar at Stadio San Paolo in their opening Group F game last week. Dani de Wit’s goal in the 57th minute proved to be the difference between the two sides.

What was remarkable about AZ’s win was that the Eredivisie club were without as many as 13 players due to positive coronavirus tests. It was a very disappointing evening for Napoli, and the Serie A outfit will be determined to get their Europa League campaign back on track on Thursday evening when they take on La Liga outfit Sociedad.

Napoli, though, did bounce back from last week’s loss with a 2-1 victory over Benevento away from home in Serie A on Sunday. Gattuso’s side are now second in the league table in Italy with 11 points from five matches, just two points behind leaders AC Milan.

Team news:

There are no injury or suspension worries for Napoli. Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Victor Osimhen all are expected to start.

Key Factors to Consider

• Real Sociedad have not conceded in two home matches against Italian clubs.
  Napoli have won just twice in their last 10 away European games.
  Real Sociedad have scored 14 goals in La Liga this season.
  Napoli have also scored 14 goals in Serie A this campaign.
  Sociedad have conceded three league goals, while Napoli have shipped in five in the league.

Conclusion

Both Sociedad and Napoli are in good form at the moment, and Thursday evening’s game could see them cancel each other out. There should be a few goals, though, and it is likely to end in a draw.

Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw

Best Odds: 12/1

Bookmaker: Betfair