Last Updated on April 10, 2026 2:54 pm by ZUWP Automation
The hosts arrive in better form, but the head-to-head record tells a different story entirely.
Three meetings. Three Alavés wins. Zero for Real Sociedad. When the visitors arrive at Anoeta on Saturday, they carry a recent H2H record that defies the expected order of things — and Real Sociedad will be acutely aware that form alone does not guarantee anything against this particular opponent.
Match Details
- Fixture: Real Sociedad vs Deportivo Alavés
- Venue: Anoeta Stadium
- Date: 11 April 2026
- Competition: La Liga (esp.1), 2025/26
Current Form
Real Sociedad arrive with genuine momentum. Their record of 3W 1D 1L in their last five includes a composed 2-0 home win over Levante on 4 April, a 3-1 dismantling of Osasuna, and a hard-fought 1-0 away victory at Mallorca. The only blemish is a 2-3 defeat at Atlético Madrid, which in context reads more as an acceptable loss than a crisis of confidence.
Alavés, by contrast, have not won in five. Their run of 0W 3D 2L includes back-to-back home draws against Osasuna (2-2) and Villarreal (1-1), sandwiched around a 2-3 defeat at Valencia and a 0-2 loss at Levante. They are drawing matches they might once have won, and losing matches they cannot afford to drop.
On form alone, this looks one-directional. The head-to-head, however, refuses to cooperate with that reading.
Head to Head
In their last three meetings, Alavés have won all three. Real Sociedad have not taken a single point. That is not a sample size large enough to call it a psychological stranglehold, but it is the kind of record that lingers in a dressing room.
The most recent encounter made it emphatic in its simplicity. In December 2025, Alavés hosted Real Sociedad and won 1-0. No fuss, no drama. Just another three points against a side that, on paper, should be the stronger outfit.
Key Players to Watch
Real Sociedad
Mikel Oyarzabal is the obvious focal point. Twelve league goals this season place him 8th in La Liga’s scoring charts, and his 10 big chances created underline that he is doing far more than finishing. He has taken 67 shots, putting 29 on target — a conversion rate that reflects consistent threat rather than streaky fortune. Against a visiting side low on confidence, he is the man most likely to settle nerves early.
Brais Méndez provides the engine behind Oyarzabal. Six goals from midfield, 34 key passes, and 92 duels won across 26 appearances make him the kind of player who shapes games without always grabbing headlines. His 580 accurate passes reflect a player who keeps things ticking rather than gambling — important when the hosts need to impose structure.
Deportivo Alavés
Lucas Boyé is Alavés’s most dangerous weapon and the one Real Sociedad’s defence must account for first. Ten goals this season rank him 18th in La Liga, and his record of scoring in big chances is striking: 8 big chances scored against just 8 missed. That is clinical. He has also won 127 duels, making him a physical presence as well as a finisher.
Álvaro García sits 22nd in La Liga for big chances created this season with 11 — ahead of Oyarzabal’s 10. For a side that has struggled for results recently, García’s creativity is the clearest route back to form. If he finds space to operate, Boyé will get opportunities.
Season Stats Comparison
The individual statistics tell a story of two sides with contrasting profiles. Real Sociedad’s top tackler, Jon Aramburu, sits second in all of La Liga with 85 tackles — behind only Juan Iglesias. That defensive intensity from a wide position is a genuine asset at home. For Alavés, Antonio Blanco leads their midfield battle with 74 tackles, ranked 6th in the division.
| Stat | Real Sociedad | Deportivo Alavés |
|---|---|---|
| Top Scorer | Oyarzabal – 12 goals (8th in La Liga) | Boyé – 10 goals (18th in La Liga) |
| Top Assister | Guedes – 4 assists | Tenaglia – 6 assists |
| Top Tackler | Aramburu – 85 (2nd in La Liga) | A. Blanco – 74 (6th in La Liga) |
| Top Chance Creator | Oyarzabal – 10 big chances created | Á. García – 11 big chances created |
| Top Passer | Aramburu – 979 passes | A. Blanco – 1,428 passes |
Blanco’s passing volume — 22nd in La Liga — signals that Alavés intend to keep the ball and be patient rather than simply defend deep. Whether that approach can be sustained against a Real Sociedad side in better collective shape is the central tactical question of the afternoon.
What the Bookmakers Say
The market is clear in its assessment. Pinnacle and DraftKings both price Real Sociedad as favourites, with the hosts available at -127 to -130 in American odds — an implied probability of roughly 56%. Alavés are a significant underdog at +360 to +376, implying just under 22% chance of a win. The draw sits around +250 to +253.
The goals line is set at 2.25 with the over priced at -116 and the under at -102, suggesting the market leans very slightly towards goals without committing strongly to a high-scoring affair. No steam moves have been detected, and there is no significant line movement to report.
Closing Paragraph
Real Sociedad have the form, the home advantage, and the market’s backing. What they do not have is a single point from their last three meetings with the side arriving at Anoeta on Saturday. Alavés are winless in five and low on momentum, yet they have consistently found a way to hurt this particular opponent when the occasion demands it. The question this match will answer is whether current form finally overrides recent history — or whether Alavés, backs against the wall and with nothing to lose, produce the kind of result that only makes sense when you look at the head-to-head record.
