Under The Spotlight: Real Sociedad proving dark horses in LaLiga top four race

Real Sociedad have been in fine form since being knocked out of the Europa League by RB Leipzig in February.

The Basque side have won five of their last eight games and are now just five points off a top-four finish with six games left to play.

Imanol Alguacil's men host Barcelona tonight, looking to close the gap between them and fourth-placed Sevilla.

Ahead of this evening's encounter, we analyse the White and Blues' Champions League credentials.

Strong defence

Sociedad's defence has been their strong suit this season, particularly at home.

They have not conceded in any of their last seven home league matches and in total only Real Madrid and Sevilla have conceded fewer than Sociedad's 30 in LaLiga this campaign.

Their expected goals allowed is 31.7, which indicates they have been defending well, and there is no fluke about their record.

Misfiring forward line

However, the San Sebastian outfit have had issues with their attacking output.

They are the lowest scorers in the top half with just 32 goals, and only four teams in the entire division have scored less than that. 

Their expected goals output for the season is 43, so they are evidently having issues finishing the chances they are creating.

No team in LaLiga has a bigger disparity between their total goals and their expected goals, so it is not hard to see where their problems lie.

Striker Alexander Isak has been highly touted in the transfer market but has failed to live up to his goal scoring output from last season.

The Swede netted 17 times in the 2020-21 campaign but has only bagged five league goals this term in seven fewer starts.

Defender Aritz Elustondo is their third-top scorer with four goals and they have no single player in double figures — injured winger Mikel Oyarzabal is the closest with nine.

The run-in

After tonight's match against Barca, Sociedad face three bottom half teams before a crucial pair of games against Villarreal and Atletico Madrid to end the campaign.

Atletico are likely, along with Sevilla, to be their primary competition for a top-four position and the result in that final game will be vital to their chances of securing Champions League football for just the third time in their history next season.

To have a chance of making the top four, Sociedad have to improve their finishing and perform better against their rivals for the Champions League spots.

Alguacil's side have been beaten home and away by Real Madrid, lost 4-2 to Barca on the opening weekend and have taken just a point from their two games against the other team outside looking in at the Champions League spots, Real Betis.

Three points against Xavi's visitors tonight would be a major step toward putting their bad record against fellow contenders behind them and on the road to Europe's premier competition.