Real Sociedad's faint hopes of European football will be extinguished if they fail to beat visitors Girona in La Liga on Sunday at Reale Arena.
The home side were beaten 1-0 by Celta Vigo on May 13 and are in 12th place with 43 points but are five points and four places from Conference League qualification with just two games remaining, while their 13th-placed opponents have 41 points and have nothing to play for.
Match preview
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Boss Imanol Alguacil will be bewildered by the fact his team failed to score against Celta Vigo given his side created eight big chances, whereas they had averaged less than two big chances in each of their first 35 La Liga games.
Real Sociedad have not found the back of the net in any of their last four games, conceding 10 in their past six.
The White and Blues are five points behind Rayo Vallecano, and with a clash against Real Madrid awaiting the hosts on the final day of the season on May 24, qualifying for the Conference League looks beyond them.
Alguacil's side come into the clash having failed to win in six matches, a period in which they suffered four defeats.
Real Sociedad's form at home has been poor, with the club winning one, losing four and drawing two of their seven most recent outings at Reale Arena.
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Meanwhile, Girona managed to beat Real Valladolid 1-0 on May 13 thanks to Cristhian Stuani's 80th-minute winner from a set piece, a goal that took them joint top of the division's set-piece scoring charts with 13.
The visitors have netted just three goals in their past four outings, though they should be credited for only conceding two in those matches.
Head coach Michel oversaw a 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad in La Liga on October 19, with his team's last victory against them coming in February 2010, a stretch that encompassed three losses and six draws.
Blanquivermells have won two of their last three fixtures 1-0 – losing once in that time – though they drew one and lost three of their prior four.
While Girona have triumphed in two and were only beaten in one of their four most recent matches on the road, they were winless in their previous six away from home, succumbing to defeat on five occasions.
Team News
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Real Sociedad will be without suspended full-back Aihen Munoz, and his absence may lead to the selection of a back four featuring Hamari Traore, Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia and Javi Lopez.
Midfield regular Martin Zubimendi is certain to play, and he could be joined in the middle of the pitch by Pablo Marin.
Mikel Oyarzabal may be tasked with leading attackers Takefusa Kubo, Brais Mendez and Sergio Gomez given striker Orri Oskarsson is unavailable.
As for Girona, they will have to contend with injuries to attackers Bryan Gil, Gabriel Misehouy and Donny van de Beek.
Perhaps striker Abel Ruiz will be supported in the final third by Viktor Tsygankov, Portu and Yasser Asprilla.
Oriol Romeu and Arthur could be stationed in a double pivot ahead of centre-backs Juanpe and David Lopez.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Traore, Elustondo, Zubeldia, Lopez; Zubimendi, Marin; Kubo, Mendez, Gomez; Oyarzabal
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Martinez, Juanpe, Lopez, Blind; Romeu, Arthur; Tsygankov, Portu, Asprilla; Ruiz
We say: Real Sociedad 0-1 Girona
Real Sociedad's performances at home have been poor, and it is hard to see them keeping a clean sheet.
Girona head to Reale Arena in better form than their hosts, and they will be confident of securing a positive result on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
