Real Sociedad will be aiming to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Manchester United in the Europa League when they continue their La Liga campaign with a contest against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday evening.
A poor run of form has seen Real Sociedad lose four of their last five matches, while Rayo have been beaten in three of their last four league encounters, so both teams will be determined to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight this weekend.
Match preview
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Rayo have been one of the teams of the season in La Liga, with the capital outfit making a strong push to secure European football for next season, but their recent struggles have seen them drop from sixth to eighth in the La Liga table.
Los Franjirrojos have only managed to pick up one point from their last four matches, with that draw coming at home to Sevilla, but their defeats have been against three excellent teams in the shape of Barcelona, Villarreal and Real Madrid.
Inigo Perez's side boast a record of nine wins, nine draws and nine defeats from their 27 league matches this season, which has left them in eighth, five points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, while they are only three points ahead of Osasuna in 14th.
A strong campaign could become a disappointing one if their form does not improve, but there were plenty of positive signs in their 2-1 defeat to the reigning champions Real Madrid last weekend.
Rayo have picked up 19 points from their 13 home league fixtures this season, and they will be welcoming a Real Sociedad outfit that have lost seven of their 13 away league games during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Real Sociedad took an early lead against Man United on Thursday night in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 affair, but they then conceded four times to ultimately suffer a 5-2 aggregate defeat, with their journey in the European competition coming to an end.
The Basque team have now been beaten in four of their last five matches in all competitions, including three of their last four in La Liga, with Real Betis, Barcelona and Sevilla overcoming them in the last month.
Imanol Alguacil's side have dropped to 11th spot in the table, some 10 points off fifth-placed Villarreal, while they are 15 points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, which is an indication of their struggles.
Real Sociedad have had huge problems finding the back of the net this season, only managing 23 in their 27 matches, which is the second-worst attacking record in the entire division behind basement team Real Valladolid (18).
The White and Blues are winless in their last three league games against Rayo, meanwhile, and they suffered a 2-1 defeat to the capital team in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Team News
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Rayo will be able to welcome Jorge de Frutos back into their squad following a recent suspension, but Jonathan Montiel, Raul de Tomas, Abdul Mumin, Randy Nteka, Isi Palazon and Sergio Camello are again set to miss the contest.
De Frutos is set to return to the side in an attacking area, but it might otherwise be the same team that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Madrid considering the impressive nature of the performance.
Alvaro Garcia is set to operate through the middle for the capital side, while there is expected to be another spot in the number 10 position for Pedro Diaz, who was on the scoresheet at Bernabeu last time out.
As for Real Sociedad, Nayef Aguerd and Takefusa Kubo are available after missing the league game at Barcelona through suspension, but Alvaro Odriozola, Luka Sucic and Jon Pacheco are injured.
Aritz Elustondo will also miss out due to the red card that he was handed against Barcelona, but Jon Aramburu will be available, as his red card from the Man United fixture does not relate to domestic games.
Head coach Alguacil will make changes from what was an energy-zapping game against Man United, with Hamari Traore, Benat Turrientes and Ander Barrenetxea potentially all coming into the side, but Mikel Oyarzabal, fresh from his goal at Old Trafford, should continue in the final third of the field.
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Hernandez, Espino; Ciss, Gumbau; Embarba, Diaz, De Frutos; A Garcia
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Benat, Zubimendi, Marin; Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal, Becker
We say: Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Real Sociedad
Rayo will certainly be the fresher of the two teams, and the capital outfit have enjoyed their recent meetings with Real Sociedad - it would not be a surprise to see a draw here, but we just have a feeling that Rayo will be able to inflict more damage on a Real Sociedad outfit that are struggling for form.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
