Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona live score, updates, highlights, commentary from La Liga match

While Real Madrid are running away with the La Liga title, the battle below Los Blancos is raging.

Five teams are still in play for a Champions League place, all within six points from second to sixth. Barcelona sit third on 60 points, level with Sevilla with a game in hand, and one back of second-placed Atletico Madrid with two games in hand.

Real Sociedad are in the mix as well, sitting sixth on 55 points, and have hung in the race despite key injuries. Goalless draws with Sevilla and Real Betis have kept the team afloat, but they need wins down the stretch.

Barca disappointingly lost to Cadiz last time out, and today’s match will determine whether that was an unfortunate blip or the continuation of a poorly timed skid that started with a Europa League exit to Eintracht Frankfurt. A bounce-back is key for Xavi and company.

MORE: Barcelona squad plans: Who will be out of contract, who should stay and who should Xavi sell in 2022?

Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona live score, commentary

Goals:
None

100 minutes until kick: Goodness, the Barcelona kit man works fast! 😉

Blaugrana on the road!#RealSociedadBarça pic.twitter.com/xWRqYfCre3

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 21, 2022

1:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. local: Barcelona channeling days of yore in a key league matchup today on the road.

🔥 𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝟱 🔥

Our best goals 🆚 Real Sociedad pic.twitter.com/EvP0Dr678K

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 21, 2022

Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona lineups

The loss of Mikel Oyarzabal to an ACL tear has been as devastating to the Real Sociedad attack as expected. The team’s leader in expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA) went down in mid-March, and they have scored just three goals in the ensuing four matches. To make matters worse, David Silva is suspended for the match due to his very late sending-off against Real Betis.

It would track that Adnan Januzaj should return to the starting lineup with all the attacking injuries, but he hasn’t started in three matches, only playing around 30 minutes combined, so his status is unclear. Portu is also a choice to enter in Silva’s place, and the misfiring Alexander Sorloth could be withdrawn.

Nacho Monreal and Carlos Fernandez have missed the entire season with serious knee injuries, and young Ander Barrenetxea has been missing since early January with a muscle tear.

Real Sociedad projected starting lineup (4-4-2 diamond): Remiro (GK) — Rico, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Zaluda – Merino, Zubimendi, Rafinha, Januzaj – Isak, Portu.

Real Sociedad subs (11): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

Real Sociedad are not the only team with a long list of missing players. Barcelona suffered a crucial loss as Pedri will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, and both Samuel Umtiti and Sergi Roberto are not expected to feature just yet despite returning to training.

There are some reinforcements, however. Sergino Dest will likely make way for Dani Alves who was rested against Cadiz, while Ronald Araujo returns after missing the loss to Cadiz due to yellow card suspension. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could not rescue Barcelona last time out off the bench, but should start in place of Memphis Depay.

The status of Gerard Pique is unclear after missing last match with a groin problem, but it’s expected he will return to his role at the heart of defence, donning the captain’s armband.

Barcelona projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Ter Stegen (GK) — Alba, Araujo, Pique, Alves — De Jong, Busquets, Gavi – Aubameyang, Torres, Dembele.

Barcelona subs (11): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

MORE: Who stays and who goes at Man United?

How to watch Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona

In the United States, the Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona match is exclusively available on the ESPN+ streaming platform.

In the UK, the match will be shown on La Liga TV and streamed on Amazon Prime.

In Canada, the match will be broadcast by TSN on both television and streaming.

In Australia, the match will be broadcast by beIN Sports on both television and streaming.

Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona betting lines, picks & prediction

Odds via DraftKings (USA) & Sports Interaction (Canada)

The oddsmakers think there will be goals in this game, but there won’t, at least not from Real Sociedad’s end.

Since Mikel Oyarzabal — the team’s xG and xA leader — went down with a torn ACL, the team’s attack has suffered greatly. The remaining goalscorers Alexander Isak and Alexander Sorloth are both poor finishers, and don’t get many chances anyways. Sorloth in particular has been a black hole, with just two goals in over 1,200 minutes on 4.94 xG.

Barcelona’s defence took a slight step back against Cadiz, but both Pique and Araujo missed that match and should be back. Through February and March, Barcelona went seven straight league matches conceding under 1.0 xG, and the win over Levante on April 10 was the first time all season they conceded over 2.0 xG in league play.

It’s unclear how the Barcelona progression will recover without Pedri, but the defence will be fine, and jumping on the plus odds for a Barcelona clean sheet is a solid bet. If you think Barca will win, you can get them to win to zero at +250 but the safer play is keeping a clean sheet regardless of result.

Pick: Both teams NOT to score (+120 on DraftKings)

Prediction: Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona