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Real Sociedad is live underdog in Champions League match with RB Salzburg

Should bettors go back to the Austrians in Matchweek 2?

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 30: Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad runs with the ball before scoring the team's third goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao at Reale Arena on September 30, 2023 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 30: Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad runs with the ball before scoring the team's third goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao at Reale Arena on September 30, 2023 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)Read moreJuan Manuel Serrano Arce / Getty Images
    by Michael Leboff, Action Network
    Published 

RB Salzburg are the type of team you always want to consider when they get to big prices in the Champions League. The young Austrian side pulled a big upset at Benfica in Matchweek 1 to make us look good with that hypothesis, but the price is much shorter for Die Roten Bullen at home against Real Sociedad and that obviously changes the equation.

Is Salzburg still worth a bet as a home underdog? Or should bettors back the club from the Basque Country to come into Austria and take all three points?

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Real Sociedad vs. RB Salzburg Pick: Analysis

It’s not just the shorter price that gives me some pause with Salzburg in this matchup. Benfica, like Salzburg, prefers to play an aggressive style of soccer that turns matches into frenetic, back-and-forth affairs. That’s a comfortable playing environment for Salzburg, who has more than enough on-the-ball talent to give teams issues when things are up-tempo.

Sociedad will not be as willing to go toe-to-toe with the Red Bulls. One of the elite defensive sides in this competition, Real Sociedad is quite a challenging side to build up against. They were among the best teams in La Liga at suppressing scoring chances last season and the early returns from this season are encouraging, especially now that they’re getting healthier.

While Salzburg will try to do everything it can to get this game on its terms by pushing the pace, Sociedad is a well-drilled unit that should remain patient and turn this game into much more of a rock fight than Salzburg wants.

With all of their young talent, Salzburg remains a side you want to have circled for when they are offered at big prices, but this is not one of those occasions and the stylistic matchup here does not jive with how the Red Bulls want to play. Sociedad is deserving of its status as a road favorite on Tuesday and there’s value on the Spanish side to get all three points in this encounter.

Real Sociedad vs. RB Salzburg Pick:

  1. Real Sociedad +145 (DraftKings)

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