Match Information
Our pre-match preview Written before kick-off — see what we expected from this match
Match Overview
Real Sociedad host Celta Vigo at Anoeta on September 3 in a Regular Season - 6 fixture that already carries early relegation-zone significance, with both sides occupying the lower half of the table — Real Sociedad in 14th and Celta Vigo 18th. For two teams still searching for consistency this early in the campaign, points here matter beyond the immediate table snapshot.
Recent form is the dominant storyline. Real Sociedad's only league win in the sample came against Espanyol on August 29, sandwiched between defeats to Real Madrid on August 26 and Real Betis on August 21. Celta Vigo's league form is starker still: a loss to Athletic Club on August 30, a loss to Osasuna on August 27, and a draw at Valencia on August 22 — meaning Claudio Giraldez's side arrive at Anoeta without a league win in this run. That contrast in results, even marginal, gives Real Sociedad a psychological edge heading into the fixture, though a solitary victory hardly signals a turnaround under Pellegrino Matarazzo.
Squad availability is not a complicating factor for either side. With no injuries reported for Real Sociedad or Celta Vigo, both managers can select from full-strength squads, meaning tactical selection rather than enforced absence will shape the team news. That levels the playing field somewhat and puts more weight on in-game execution and home advantage.
Head-to-head history adds context without overwhelming the present-day picture: Real Sociedad's 3-1 win on January 25, 2026 is the most recent meeting, part of a fixture list that has generally favored the hosts in this pairing over recent seasons. With both clubs sitting in the bottom half after just a handful of rounds, this is shaping up as a significant early-season measuring stick for two teams needing to arrest any slide down the table.
Predicted Lineups
Real Sociedad
A. Remiro; J. Aramburu, I. Zubeldia, J. Martin, S. Gomez; L. Sucic, B. Turrientes, C. Soler, A. Barrenetxea; O. Oskarsson, M. Oyarzabal
Celta Vigo
I. Radu; J. Rodriguez, C. Starfelt, A. Faye; A. Nunez, A. Febas, I. Moriba, S. Carreira; W. Swedberg, H. Gonzalez, F. Jutgla
Team Form Analysis
Real Sociedad
League Position: 14Real Sociedad Form Analysis
Real Sociedad's league form shows a team still finding its footing under Pellegrino Matarazzo. The 2-1 home win over Espanyol on August 29 stands out as the clear positive, with the side scoring twice and showing attacking intent at Anoeta. However, that result is bracketed by two league defeats — a 4-1 loss away to Real Madrid on August 26 and a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis on August 21 — highlighting defensive vulnerabilities against stronger opposition and difficulty grinding out results on the road. Pre-season friendly losses to Chelsea and 1. FC Köln in August offer limited bearing on league form but suggest defensive issues have been present for some time. Across the available league matches, Real Sociedad have scored in every outing, indicating the attack is functioning, but conceding in every match points to a defense that has yet to find its rhythm. The Espanyol win, coming at home, will be an important reference point as they prepare to host Celta Vigo.
Celta Vigo
League Position: 18Celta Vigo Form Analysis
Celta Vigo's form under Claudio Giraldez has been difficult through the opening rounds, with no league win recorded across the available matches. The 0-2 home defeat to Athletic Club on August 30 followed a 1-2 loss to Osasuna on August 27, both at home, raising immediate concerns about performances in front of their own supporters. A scoreless draw away at Valencia on August 22 offered a rare clean sheet, suggesting the defense can hold firm against certain opponents even if goals have been hard to come by. Pre-season friendly results — a 1-1 draw with Napoli and a 4-1 win over Sassuolo in early August — showed attacking sharpness that has not yet carried into the league campaign. With just one goal scored across their last three competitive fixtures shown here, generating attacking output on the road at Anoeta will be a central challenge for Celta Vigo as they look to arrest their winless start.
Head-to-Head
Real Sociedad
Celta Vigo
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | Real Sociedad | 3 - 1 | Celta Vigo |
| 2025-10-19 | Celta Vigo | 1 - 1 | Real Sociedad |
| 2025-05-13 | Real Sociedad | 0 - 1 | Celta Vigo |
| 2024-12-21 | Celta Vigo | 2 - 0 | Real Sociedad |
| 2024-01-23 | Celta Vigo | 1 - 2 | Real Sociedad |
| 2024-01-20 | Celta Vigo | 0 - 1 | Real Sociedad |
| 2023-08-19 | Real Sociedad | 1 - 1 | Celta Vigo |
| 2023-02-18 | Real Sociedad | 1 - 1 | Celta Vigo |
| 2022-10-16 | Celta Vigo | 1 - 2 | Real Sociedad |
| 2022-01-08 | Real Sociedad | 1 - 0 | Celta Vigo |
Memorable Matches
The fixture history between these two sides has produced tight, competitive contests more often than one-sided affairs. The most recent meeting on January 25, 2026 saw Real Sociedad win 3-1, a comprehensive home performance. Earlier meetings have frequently been close: the October 19, 2025 clash finished 1-1 at Celta Vigo, while January 2024 produced two matches within days of each other, with Real Sociedad winning 2-1 and 1-0 respectively. The pairing has also thrown up goalless defensive stalemates, such as the 1-1 draws in 2023, underlining that these fixtures rarely follow a predictable pattern regardless of league form heading into them.
Venue Factor
Anoeta provides Real Sociedad with home advantage for this Regular Season - 6 fixture, and their most recent league outing there — the 2-1 win over Espanyol on August 29 — offers a positive recent reference point for home form. For Celta Vigo, the trip to San Sebastian follows a run of matches where two of their last three league results have come at home, meaning traveling form on the road will be tested. The atmosphere at Anoeta, with a home crowd looking for the team to build on the Espanyol result, adds pressure on the visitors to disrupt the hosts' rhythm. With both sides in the lower half of the table, home support could play a meaningful role in tipping momentum during the match.
Injury Concerns
Real Sociedad
Celta Vigo
