Real Sociedad eye Camp Nou glory and finish within the top 6

Barcelona (FCB).- FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad will face off in the first match of the 2012/13 Spanish League season. The two teams have played against each other 65 times at the Camp Nou, with a record of 54 victories and 3 draws for the home team. Despite the history between the two in Barcelona, Real Sociedad will look for an upset on Sunday. Philippe Montainer, who is about to kick off his second season with the Basque team, will arrive in Barcelona with the intention of not giving TitoVilanova an easy debut in the Spanish championship. In fact, last season the two teams tied at Anoeta, 2-2, and lost at the Camp Nou by the narrowest of margins (2-1).

Players to watch

This season Real Sociedad brought in the midfielder Chori Castro from Mallorca. Castro is a good addition to the team’s already dangerous attacking line led by Carlos Vela. The Mexican player was on loan to the Basque side last season from Arsenal and his good season-long performance, 12 goals in 35 matches, was enough for Real Sociedad to make the deal permanent. Besides Vela, the San Sebastián side’s attack is completed by the forwards Griezmann, Agirretxe and Ifrán.

Roma’s José Ángel reinforces the defence

The left back José Ángel was brought in this season, on loan from Roma, to compliment Real Sociedad’s defence. In the back, the Basque side boast DeBella, Mikel González, Estrada, Cadamuro and IñigoMartínez, a 21-year-old that shows a lot of promise. The goal is defended by the veteran Claudio Bravo.

Among the players that won’t don the blue and white stripes this season is the once captain Mikel Aranburu, who retried at the end of last season.