Statistical pick: Real Sociedad 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna
The market prices Real Sociedad as a clear home favourite, but the raw season data does not support a comfortable home win. Real Sociedad sit only one place below Deportivo La Coruna, both teams have 10 points, and Deportivo actually carry the stronger goal difference: +2 compared with Real Sociedad’s -4. On a per-match basis, Real Sociedad have scored 9 in 7 league matches, which is 1.29 goals/match, but they have conceded 13, or 1.86 goals/match. Deportivo are slightly better in attack at 10 goals in 7, or 1.43 goals/match, and much better defensively at 8 conceded, or 1.14 goals/match. That defensive gap is the main reason I prefer the away side on the +1.0 handicap and lean away from a strong home result.
Recent form also argues for caution. Real Sociedad’s last five listed matches show 7 scored and 10 conceded, while their recent home results include 0-1 vs Athletic Bilbao, 1-2 vs AFC Bournemouth and 0-3 vs Atletico Madrid. Deportivo’s recent results are not spectacular, but their league matches have been compact: 1-1 vs Real Betis, 0-1 vs Sevilla and 1-1 away at Getafe. That pattern fits a low-margin game more than a home blowout.
- Player output: Luka Sucic leads Real Sociedad with 3G in 7 apps, while Ander Barrenetxea has 2G in 6. Mikel Oyarzabal has 0G but 2A, so the home creativity exists, yet finishing is spread rather than dominant.
- Deportivo threat: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has 5G 2A in 7 apps, directly involved in 7 of Deportivo’s 10 league goals. That is a strong statistical reason to expect at least one away goal against a defence conceding 1.86 per match.
- Totals angle: The line is 2.75, but Deportivo’s last three league games produced totals of 2, 1 and 2. With the most likely script being Real Sociedad pressure against a compact Depor side, 1-1 is the cleaner statistical score.
The old head-to-head record favours Real Sociedad, including 5-0, 4-2 and 1-0 wins, but those matches are from 2016-2018 and carry limited predictive weight compared with the current defensive numbers. The baseline model gives home 54.9%, below the bookmaker’s implied 60.8%, which also suggests the home price may be a little short. My final call is draw on 1x2, Deportivo +1.0 on handicap, and under 2.75 goals.
- Depor have the better season defence: 1.14 GA vs 1.86 GA
- Real Sociedad home form is statistically unconvincing
- Aubameyang’s 5G 2A gives Depor a reliable scoring route


