Against All Odds: Aberdeen to keep on fighting

Will the Sociedad celebrations be stopped tonight?

Paul Robinson takes us to Scotland tonight as he feels that despite their 2-0 loss in Spain, Aberdeen can avoid defeat in the second leg of their Europa League tie with Real Sociedad.

Aberdeen v Real Sociedad
Thursday August 7, 19:45 BST
Live on BT Sport 1

Aberdeen were completely outplayed by their Spanish opponents last week but with the score kept down to 2-0, they will still believe they have a chance of making it through to the next round. Conceding an away goal would be a huge problem of course, so I expect them to play with patience as 90 minutes is a long time in football.

Derek McInnes' have a pretty formidable record at Pittodrie as they lost just five games there last season - winning 12 and drawing five. The Dons have already played two home matches in this competition this term and they kept clean sheets in both - beating Daugava Riga 5-0 and drawing 0-0 with Groningen.

Real Sociedad may have finished seventh in La Liga last year but they aren't as strong as they were a couple of seasons ago and outside of the top eight or so in Spain, it's quite a weak league. Their success is based on their results in front of their own fans as on the road they get turned over fairly often.

Since stepping up from assistant manager, Jagoba Arrasate has done just about enough to keep himself in the job. He will be desperate to make it through to the group stage of the Europa and I expect him to send out his players with a note of caution this evening.

Given the fact they don't need to win, as well as their patchy record on the road, at around the 1.728/11 mark, I have to make Real Sociedad my lay of the day.

Recommended Bet
Lay Real Sociedad v Aberdeen @ 1.728/11

2014 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 209 pts
Returned: 215.90 pts
P/L: + 6.90 pts (after commission)
(2013 P/L: + 3.80 pts)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)