MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 05:44:12| >> :120:79980:79980:
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Valencia logo
La Liga | Gameweek 7
Sep 27, 2023 at 8.30pm UK
Estadio de Mestalla
Real Sociedad logo

Valencia
0 - 1
Real Sociedad


Amallah (42'), Guerra (45+3'), Mosquera (79')
Amallah (45')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Fernandez (32')
Gonzalez de Zarate (14'), Pacheco (25'), Traore (45+2'), Fernandez (62'), Mendez (68'), Merino (81'), Zubeldia (89')

Preview: Valencia vs. Real Sociedad - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's La Liga clash between Valencia and Real Sociedad, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Valencia will look to record a second straight home win when they welcome Real Sociedad to Mestalla for Wednesday's La Liga fixture.

The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to claim back-to-back victories after getting the better of Gefate in Sunday's seven-goal thriller.


Match preview

Valencia coach Ruben Baraja reacts on March 18, 2023© Reuters

After leading Valencia to safety last season, Ruben Baraja has enjoyed a promising start to his first full season as Valencia boss, having seen his side take 10 points from their opening six matches to leave them in sixth position in the La Liga table.

Los Che got up and running with successive victories over Europa League winners Sevilla and newly-promoted Las Palmas, before their growing momentum was halted by back-to-back defeats against Osasuna and Alaves.

However, they bounced back in style against Atletico Madrid on matchday five, recording a 3-0 home win to condemn Diego Simeone's side to their first defeat of the season.

Valencia subsequently spurned the opportunity to claim back-to-back victories for the second time this season, giving up a lead on two occasions in Saturday's away meeting with Almeria after a Sergio Arribas brace cancelled out strikes from Diego Lopez and Javi Guerra to ensure that the contest finished in a 2-2 draw.

They will now turn their attention to a difficult home fixture against Real Sociedad, and the hosts will be hopeful about their chances of claiming a positive result after avoiding defeat in their last six head-to-head meetings at Mestalla (W2, D4).

Real Sociedad's Ander Barrenetxea celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on September 17, 2023© Reuters

Looking to replicate last season's fourth-placed finish, Real Sociedad have experienced mixed results in the opening stages of the 2023-24 season.

After beginning the campaign with three consecutive draws, Imanol Alguacil's side finally clinched maximum points on matchday four courtesy of an entertaining 5-3 home win over newly-promoted Granada.

As it proved, Real Sociedad were unable to claim a victory in their next two matches against top-quality opposition, losing 2-1 against Real Madrid in the league and drawing 1-1 with Inter Milan in their Champions League opener despite taking the lead in both of those contests.

Having failed to win four competitive games where they scored the first goal this season, Real Sociedad threatened to give up another lead at the weekend when Getafe established a 2-1 advantage after Take Kubo opened the scoring, but a second-half brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Brais Mendez strike secured all three points, even though Juanmi Latasa pulled a goal back late on.

Buoyed from recording a 4-3 win in front of their own supporters, Real Sociedad will now head on their travels, where they will attempt to claim their first away win of the season.

Valencia La Liga form:

Real Sociedad La Liga form:


Real Sociedad form (all competitions):



Team News

Valencia's Hugo Duro celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on September 16, 2023© Reuters

Valencia are still unable to call upon the injured quartet of Dimitri Foulquier, Jesus Vazquez, Sergi Canos and Roman Yaremchuk.

After missing the last three matches through injury, Gabriel Paulista is likely to return to the side for Wednesday's home fixture.

Hugo Duro will continue to lead the line for the hosts, and he will be looking to add to the three league goals that he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, Jon Pacheco could replace Igor Zubeldia, who is set to miss out after being forced off with an ankle injury in Sunday's win over Getafe.

Arsen Zakharyan is expected to be absent for a second straight game due to illness, while Aritz Elustondo is a doubt for the midweek contest.

After rotating his side at the weekend, Alguacil is expected to recall Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Oyarzabal.


Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Paulista, Diakhaby, Gaya; Pepelu, Guerra; Perez, Almeida, Lopez; Duro

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Traore, Pacheco, Le Normand, Tierney; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal


SM words green background

We say: Valencia 2-2 Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad will be desperate to pick up their first away victory of the season, but after failing to win any of their last six away meetings with Valencia, we think that they will have to settle for a share of the spoils.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Valencia vs Real Sociedad

Valencia
30.2%
Draw
41.5%
Real Sociedad
28.3%
53
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal167542827126
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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