Real Betis is set to take on Real Sociedad in the second round of La Liga for the 2026-2027 season. The match will take place on August 22, 2026, at 2:00 AM (Vietnam time). This encounter is crucial for both teams as they aim to establish a solid footing early in the season.

Real Betis concluded their pre-season preparations with a narrow 0-1 defeat against Inter Milan on August 15. Prior to this, they had secured three victories against Lyon, Almeria, and Arsenal. Last season, Betis finished fifth in La Liga, qualifying for the Europa League, and they are now aiming for an even better position. The summer transfer window has seen them bring in three new players: Facundo Bernal, Fran Garcia, and Diego Conde, although they have lost Sergi Altimira to another club.

Historically, Real Betis has had a competitive edge over Real Sociedad, winning 42 of their 120 encounters. In their last meeting, the teams played to a 2-2 draw. Sociedad has struggled against Betis in recent years, managing only one point in their last three meetings, with their last victory dating back to December 2024.

On the other hand, Real Sociedad experienced a disappointing 2025-2026 season, finishing in 10th place in La Liga. Despite this, they secured a spot in the Europa League by winning the Copa del Rey. The team, coached by Pellegrino Matarazzo, has not made any new signings this summer, but they are expected to make changes before the transfer window closes. Their pre-season form has also been shaky, with four losses in seven matches, including a 1-3 defeat to Chelsea in their final friendly.

In terms of player availability, Real Betis will be without goalkeeper Diego Conde and Aitor Ruibal due to injuries. Gonzalo Petit and Giovani Lo Celso are also not at full fitness. Antony and Pablo Fornals are likely to lead the attack, with Rodrigo Riquelme possibly starting on the left wing. New signings Fran Garcia and Facundo Bernal may make their debuts in this match.

Real Sociedad will miss Alvaro Odriozola, who is out with a long-term injury, and Goncalo Guedes is uncertain for the match. Mikel Oyarzabal has returned from the World Cup but may only feature as a substitute due to limited preparation time. Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea are expected to play key roles in the attack for the visitors.

The anticipated lineups for the match are as follows:

• Real Betis: Valles, Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Garcia, Bernal, Roca, Antony, Fornals, Riquelme, Hernandez.
• Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aramburu, Zubeldia, Martin, Gomez, Herrera, Sucic, Kubo, Soler, Barrenetxea, Oskarsson.

As both teams prepare for this clash, the stakes are high for a successful start to their La Liga campaigns.