Two teams that will expect to be in the mix for a top-four spot in La Liga this season will lock horns at Reale Arena on Saturday evening, with Real Sociedad welcoming Villarreal.
The home side are currently seventh in Spain's top flight, boasting 13 points from their opening seven matches, while Villarreal are eighth, one point behind their opponents ahead of this weekend's contest.
Match preview
© Reuters
Real Sociedad strengthened their grip on top spot in their Europa League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol, with David Silva and Aritz Elustondo on the scoresheet for the Blue and Whites, who are three points clear of second-placed Manchester United in Group E.
The Basque outfit have now won each of their last four games in all competitions, including two in the league, beating Espanyol 2-1 and Girona 5-3 in their last two fixtures in Spain's top flight.
Real Sociedad have won four, drawn one and lost two of their seven La Liga games this season to collect 13 points, which has left them in seventh spot in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Real Betis.
Imanol Alguacil's side have finished sixth, fifth and sixth in their last three league campaigns, with their last top-four spot coming in 2012-13, and they will be expecting to challenge high up the division once again, while a run deep into the Europa League cannot be ruled out.
Real Sociedad have only actually lost one of their last five La Liga games against Villarreal and recorded a 2-1 victory over the Yellow Submarine in their last meeting in May.
© Reuters
Villarreal, though, beat Real Sociedad 3-1 in the corresponding match between the two sides last term, and the visitors will also enter this game off the back of a strong European win.
Indeed, Unai Emery's side scored five unanswered goals against Austria Vienna in the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening to cement their spot at the top of Group C with nine points.
Villarreal are certainly one the favourites to win the European competition this term, but they have struggled to find consistency in La Liga thus far this season despite only losing one of their seven games and conceding just twice, which is the second-best defensive record behind Barcelona.
The Yellow Submarine are eighth in the table ahead of the next set of fixtures, one point behind seventh-placed Real Sociedad and three behind Real Betis in fourth.
Emery's team finished seventh in Spain's top flight last term, which has to go down as a slight disappointment, but they managed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2021-22.
Team News
© Reuters
Real Sociedad have Mikel Oyarzabal back in training following a long-term knee injury, but the attacker is still some way off being considered for selection.
Martin Merquelanz is also on the sidelines due to a knee problem, while Ander Barrenetxea, Igor Zubeldia, Ander Martin, Mohamed-Ali Cho, Sadiq Umar and Robin Le Normand are all doubts.
Head coach Alguacil sent a strong side onto the field in the Europa League on Thursday, and it is likely to be a similar XI here, with Takefusa Kubo and Alexander Sorloth again set to feature in forward areas.
As for Villarreal, Juan Foyth is still on the sidelines with a knee injury, while Gerard Moreno and Manu Trigueros are also doubts for the visitors.
Jose Luis Morales scored three times in Thursday's European victory and will have surely now worked his way into the starting side, while there will be plenty of changes elsewhere.
Indeed, Giovani Lo Celso, Etienne Capoue, Dani Parejo, Raul Albiol and Kiko Femenia will be among those to return to the side following the five-goal victory over Austria Vienna.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Gorosabel, Elustondo, Pacheco, Munoz; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; D Silva; Sorloth, Kubo
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Femenia, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza; Parejo, Coquelin, Capoue; Chukwueze, Morales, Lo Celso
We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Villarreal
Neither side will have had long to prepare for this match due to their European commitments, and both could be missing some important players this weekend. A draw would be seen as a relatively good result for both sides, and we can see a low-scoring contest taking place on Sunday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
