FC Barcelona are favored to win against Real Sociedad, with most early markets pricing Barcelona around 1.85, Real Sociedad near 4.20, and the draw at 3.60 due to Barça’s strong 2025-26 LaLiga form and four-point lead at the top of the table plus their eight- to nine-match winning streak in the league. Real Sociedad’s recent slide into the lower half after three straight LaLiga defeats makes them clear underdogs even at home with DexWin - Best Odds on Your Favourite Sports.

The Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona LaLiga match is scheduled to start on 18 January 2026 at 20:00 UTC, which is 21:00 CET local time in Spain. Fans in San Sebastián and across mainland Spain can therefore expect kick-off at 9:00 PM local time under evening conditions.

The game will be played at Reale Arena in San Sebastián, Spain, Real Sociedad’s modern home stadium with a capacity of roughly 39,000 spectators and a tight, football-specific design that produces an intense atmosphere. The venue’s coastal Basque location can bring cool, humid January conditions, which may influence pitch speed and ball movement.

Given Barcelona’s current LaLiga leadership, recent run of eight-plus consecutive league wins, and improved squad health with key attackers back from injury, a logical prediction is a Barcelona away win, priced around 1.80–1.90 on the moneyline. Real Sociedad’s poor recent league form and home inconsistency make a 2-1 or 3-1 victory for Barça a plausible scoreline, though Sociedad’s technical play suggests both teams to score is also a strong secondary angle.

In recent seasons, FC Barcelona have dominated the head-to-head series, winning the majority of LaLiga meetings and often scoring two or more goals, while Real Sociedad’s wins have been relatively rare and usually come at home. Matches at Reale Arena are typically competitive and open, with many encounters finishing with over 2.5 total goals between the sides.