- 1 Real Sociedad vs Lyon: four straight league wins against a Lyon side short of forwards
- 2 Real Sociedad: 13 goals in four straight league wins before the derby
- 3 Lyon: Openda and Tagliafico out, Šulc a doubt after a 3-0 night in Germany
- 4 Free Football Prediction: Real Sociedad vs Lyon
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
Real Sociedad vs Lyon: four straight league wins against a Lyon side short of forwards
Both clubs went into the weekend fifth in their leagues. Real Sociedad had 19 points in LaLiga after four straight wins; Lyon had 14 in Ligue 1, three points off the top, but had lost two of their last three league games.
They meet at the Reale Arena on Thursday 5 November, kick-off 17:45 UK time, in the fourth round of the Europa League league phase. Lyon have six points and sit 12th; Sociedad have four and are 14th.
The European results don’t line up with the domestic ones. Sociedad lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth on the opening night, drew 1-1 at Union SG and then won 6-0 at Lillestrøm, a performance Pellegrino Matarazzo called “incredible”.
Lyon went the other way. They won 2-1 at Anderlecht and beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in October, then lost 3-0 at Hoffenheim with a rotated side. Paulo Fonseca blamed a “lack of aggression”.
The history is split down the middle. Lyon won both legs 1-0 in the 2003-04 Champions League last 16, and Sociedad won both legs 2-0 in the 2013-14 Champions League play-off.
I’d lean on the league form and on Lyon’s injury list. Fonseca has talked openly about “problems we have with the attackers”, and he goes to San Sebastián without Openda.
Real Sociedad: 13 goals in four straight league wins before the derby 
Sociedad’s league run has been built on goals. They won 3-2 at Valencia, 3-2 against Deportivo, 5-2 at Málaga and 2-1 against Levante on 25 October, 13 goals in four games. They were unbeaten in six in all competitions before Sunday’s derby at Athletic Club.
Sučić and Óskarsson have three league goals each and Barrenetxea two. Soler, with three assists, is the player who links it together, and Oyarzabal has two assists of his own.
Matarazzo has injuries to manage at full-back. Odriozola has a serious knee injury and Luken Beitia is also out. Héctor Fort, signed from Barcelona for €8.5m on 29 August, and Aramburu, now fit again, give him cover on the right.
Zakharyan sprained an ankle on 29 October and missed the derby squad, but he’s expected back for Lyon. Yangel Herrera is also back in contention after injury.
The one note of caution is the opening-night defeat. Bournemouth scored twice in the first 20 minutes at Anoeta, and Sociedad needed until the 58th to get one back through Sergio Gómez. They’ve scored first in six of their last seven games since.
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Lyon: Openda and Tagliafico out, Šulc a doubt after a 3-0 night in Germany 
Lyon’s absences are the story of their week. Openda, on loan from Juventus since July, has a leg injury and is hoped to return in mid-November. Šulc has a knee problem expected to keep him out for about a week, Tagliafico has a muscle injury, and Ouédraogo won’t play again until June after an ACL tear. Kango is in concussion protocol after being stretchered off at Hoffenheim.
That leaves Nuamah as the main scoring threat. He has three league goals and four in all competitions, including one in the 3-2 win over Palace. Athekame, on loan from Milan, has two goals and three assists in Ligue 1.
League form has dipped. Lyon beat Rennes 4-0 away and Nice 2-1, but lost 2-1 to Lens on 9 October and 2-0 to PSG on 26 October, four days after the defeat in Germany, before Sunday’s home game against Angers.
The summer sales still show. Malick Fofana went to Sunderland for €35m on 1 September and Afonso Moreira to Leverkusen for €33.6m, and Endrick returned to Real Madrid at the end of his loan. Bidstrup and Nakamura have come in, and Nakamura scored in Brussels.
The Hoffenheim game was a warning. Kramarić, Daghim and Hložek scored, and Lyon didn’t manage a reply. Over 2.5 goals has landed in six of Lyon’s last seven games, so their defence isn’t holding up either.
Probable lineup Real Sociedad: Not announced at time of publication
Probable lineup Lyon: Not announced at time of publication
Free Football Prediction: Real Sociedad vs Lyon
Our prediction: Real Sociedad to win (odds not available at time of publication)
Sociedad have scored 13 goals in their last four league wins and six in their last European game, and they’re at home. Lyon arrive without Openda or Tagliafico, with Šulc a doubt, and lost their last European game 3-0.
The opening defeat to Bournemouth shows Sociedad can be got at early, and Nuamah has four goals this season. Matarazzo’s side have scored first in six of their last seven, though, and over 2.5 goals has landed in eight of their last ten.
No bookmaker had priced the match when this was written. I’m backing the home win.
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