REAL SOCIEDAD v MALAGA
Football : Spain : Primera
Sunday 13th March 2011

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This column has been a big fan of backing Sociedad at home this season and Malagas trip to the Anoeta this weekend offers another opportunity.

Sociedads promotion season last year was based on stunning home form and that has been the cornerstone of what has to be considered a triumphant return to La Liga. 8 wins from 13 is a commendable return for a newly promoted side, and on the back of this Real sit pretty in 9th place.

Of course, home form has to be good, because away from home they get very little, but if anything that only averages up the odds for their home matches.

No win in the last 3 matches is a worry of course, especially at this time of year when sides who are perhaps in a false position or were an unknown quantity in the first half of the season can come unstuck. Fatigue and stretched resources come into play too. But of those 3 matches, 2 were away at tough venues. And preceding that run was two home wins. Lets not give up on the San Sebastian outfit just yet.

Particularly when they are playing a side who have managed just 3 away wins from 14 attempts this year, and have only kept one clean sheet since November. Arab investment and the two top coaches havent been able to lift Malaga from a desperately disappointing relegation dogfight and the Costa Del Sol side sit rock bottom.
Just 1 win in 10 for Malaga is no sort of record for taking on a long trip north to the Anoeta and confidence in the camp must be as bad as their league position.

San Sebastian is not a happy hunting ground for the Andalucians anyway, with just 1 win to show from the last 8 attempts.

Real Sociedad look decent value to continue that trend at even money.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Real Sociedad 3 Malaga 1

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Real Sociedad 55% - Draw 25% - Malaga 20%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Real Sociedad to win at evens - available at Bodog Sportsbook, Eurobet and Victor Chandler