Real Sociedad will be bidding to bounce back from successive defeats in La Liga when they continue their domestic campaign with a contest against Osasuna at El Sadar on Sunday evening.
The away side's recent struggles in Spain's top flight have seen them drop into ninth position in the La Liga table, while Osasuna are 11th, just one point behind their opponents in this weekend's contest in Pamplona.
Match preview
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Osasuna's winless run in La Liga stretched to nine matches on January 24, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Las Palmas, and it proved to be the sixth time in their last eight league games that the points had been shared.
Vicente Moreno's side have not been victorious in Spain's top flight since the start of November, but a relatively solid campaign to date has left them in 11th spot in the table, boasting 27 points from their 21 matches.
Osasuna are only one point behind ninth-placed Real Sociedad and just three from Mallorca in sixth, with a fascinating battle developing for the European spots, and a lot could change in the table in a short space of time.
Los Rojillos have been impressive on home soil this season, picking up 19 points from 11 matches, which is actually the fifth-best home record in the division, while Real Sociedad have 14 points from their 10 games on their travels.
Osasuna have won their last two league games against Real Sociedad, including a 2-0 success in the reverse match earlier this season, but it was 1-1 when the two sides locked horns for the corresponding fixture last term.
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Real Sociedad will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League, with the result seeing them finish 13th in the overall table, so they will need to win a playoff to be present in the next round.
Imanol Alguacil's side are also in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, with Osasuna their opponents next week, so this is the first of two quick-fire matches between the two sides.
Real Sociedad's league form is worrying, though, only managing to win one of their last five matches in Spain's top flight, while they have been beaten in three of their last four, including their last two against Valencia and Getafe.
La Real have won eight, drawn four and lost nine of their 21 league matches this season to collect 28 points, which has left them in ninth spot, but a top-six finish is still very much achievable this term.
Goals have been an issue for Real Sociedad this term, only finding the back of the net on 17 occasions, which is the joint-second worst attacking record in the division behind basement team Real Valladolid (14).
Team News
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Osasuna will have to make a check on Moi Gomez, who has been struggling with an illness, while Bryan Zaragoza remains unavailable for selection due to a foot injury.
The home side are otherwise in strong shape, and there are not expected to be any real surprises when it comes to their XI for this match, with Ante Budimir set to continue in the final third of the field.
Kike Barja and Ruben Garcia are likely to operate in the wide positions for Osasuna, while Aimar Oroz is expected to keep his spot in midfield, having scored from that position against Las Palmas last time out.
As for Real Sociedad, Hamari Traore remains a long-term absentee due to a serious knee injury, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape, with no fresh issues being reported following their Europa League clash with PAOK.
Orri Oskarsson scored twice in the European fixture last time out, and he is now expected to retain his spot through the middle, but there should be a return to the XI for Mikel Oyarzabal.
Alex Remiro will be back between the sticks for the Basque outfit, while there are also set to be recalls for Jon Aramburu and Igor Zubeldia for the league fixture with Osasuna.
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Boyomo, Catena, Cruz; Ruben Garcia, Moncayola, Munoz, Oroz, Barja; Budimir
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Gomez; Kubo, Zubimendi, Marin, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal, Oskarsson
We say: Osasuna 1-1 Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad are a difficult team to back at the moment, and they will be coming up against draw specialists Osasuna on Sunday; it would not be a shock to see a home or indeed an away success here, but we are expecting the points to be shared in a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
