THE CURSE OF THE GOALLESS STREAK: CAN OYARZABAL FINALLY BREAK HIS BAD LUCK AGAINST THE WORST DEFENDING TEAM OF THE CENTURY?
Real Sociedad - Real Valladolid
March 29th, 2025
Real Sociedad has failed to win any of their last three matches against Real Valladolid in LaLiga (1 draw, 2 losses) and has not managed to score in all three duels. This is the Basque club's worst streak without scoring against this opponent in the history of the competition.
Real Valladolid has won three of their last seven away games against Real Sociedad in LaLiga (4 losses), including a victory on their last visit in February 2023 (1-0). That's more wins than they had previously achieved against Real Sociedad in all their away games combined (2 wins, 9 draws, 23 losses).
Valladolid can also boast excellent results in the Basque Country in general. They have won two of their last three trips to this region (1 loss), which is the same number of wins as in their previous 20 away matches against Basque opponents in the competition (5 draws, 13 losses).
Real Sociedad is experiencing a weaker season than in previous years. In the 28 LaLiga 2024/25 matches so far, they have recorded 13 defeats (10 wins, 5 draws), which is the most at this stage of the season since the 2017/18 season, when they finished 13th.
Real Valladolid hasn't won any of their last nine matches in LaLiga (1 draw, 8 losses). They last remained without a win in 10 or more games in the 2020/21 season, when they didn't secure any victory in the last 12 rounds (6 draws, 6 losses) and were relegated.
Both teams share a problem with headed goals. Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid, along with Sevilla, are the only three teams that have scored the fewest headed goals in the five major European leagues this season (all with just 1).
Valladolid's defense is absolutely catastrophic. They have conceded 63 goals in 28 LaLiga matches, which is the second-worst result in the 21st century at this stage of the competition. Only Osasuna in the 2016/17 season was worse (67 goals conceded).
Captain of Real Sociedad Mikel Oyarzabal is going through a scoring crisis. He hasn't scored in LaLiga for 11 consecutive matches, with his last goal coming on December 8 against Leganés. This is his worst goalless streak in a single season of the competition since May 2021 (then 12 matches).
Juanmi Latasa has scored Real Valladolid's last two goals in LaLiga and could become the first player from the club to score three consecutive goals in the competition since Cyle Larin did so in February 2023.
Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil has won only 25% of his matches against Real Valladolid in LaLiga (8 matches, 2 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses). He has a worse record only against Barcelona (14%), Atlético Madrid (15%), and Real Madrid (23%) from teams he has faced at least twice.
We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data.
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