Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Real Sociedad
Match Time & Date:
12/08/2023
17:00
Prediction: 2-0
Girona
Real Sociedad will look to kickstart the new La Liga campaign in an impressive fashion when they host Girona to their Reale Arena. Over the years La Real have established themselves as one of the best Primera Division clubs and seeing that Imanol Alguacil can count on fit-again striker Umar Sadiq for the season opener, home win should be considered. Both David Silva and Martin Merquelanz should miss out with injuries, while new signing Andre Silva is likely to make his official Real Sociedad debut against Girona.
The Catalans, meanwhile, defeated Lazio 2-1 in their last warm-up game, but they will have a mountain to climb in San Sebastian as the Basques are a real force to be reckoned with at home. Girona often struggle on the travels and we do not believe that they are capable of grabbing something from Saturday’s clash. Defender Bernardo Espinosa is banned for the match, while both Ricard Artero and Toni Villa miss out with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Mikel Oyarzabal):
Intelligence is not an attribute you will find in Mikel Oyarzabal’s stats with Real Sociedad but this tricky winger is a highly knowledgeable winger who will use both brain and feet while playing. For a player born in Eibar, who made his first steps in his hometown club, it was always going to be a choice between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad for Oyarzabal.
La Real saw their chance and grabbed this gem of a player at a young age, helping him develop into a proper professional throughout their youth ranks. Mikel Oyarzabal has spent the entirety of his senior career with the Basque behemoths where he’d use his ability to fill in a number of positions up top much to his own benefit.
Oyarzabal’s positioning and movement are work of a tactical genius, whereas it is his nous to find details to exploit that best define him as a player. Having come through the youth categories of the Spanish national team, Oyarzabal also has a senior cap next to his name. It was in 2016 that he also represented the Basque region, scoring on his debut to cap a 3-1 win over Tunisia.
Highlighted Team (Girona):
After several unsuccessful attempts, finally secured promotion to Primera Division at the end of the 2016/2017 season. The Catalan outfit finished the campaign in second place in the standings, 14 points behind Levante and only two clear of third-placed Getafe. Girona play their home games at Montilivi and the capacity of the venue is 9.286.
Speaking of the club history, Girona were founded in the café Norat in La Rambla of Girona on July 23, 1930 and they played their first official game against Colonia Artigas. A number of Spanish coaches were in charge of the team in the past, but it has to be noted that Uruguayan tactician Dagoberto Moll (1965/1966) and Karoly Plattko (1948/1949) of Hungary were in charge of the club as well.
The Catalan team wear white shirts with red stripes when playing at home, while the colour of their shorts is blue. The team’s away kits are blue and black and Sporting Gijon are considered one of Girona’s fiercest rivals.
Valladolid 
Betis 
Leicester 
QPR
Chelsea 
Morecambe 
Reading
Burnley
Sunderland 
Stoke City 
Torino
Juventus 
