Real Sociedad will be aiming to record just their second La Liga win of the season when they welcome Valencia to Anoeta Stadium on Saturday evening.
The hosts have only picked up five points from their opening seven matches of the campaign, which has left them down in 16th spot in the table, one position above Valencia, who have also struggled this term.
Match preview
© Imago
Real Sociedad have won one, drawn two and lost four of their seven La Liga matches this season to collect five points, which has left them in 16th spot in the table, already seven points off the top four.
The Basque outfit suffered a surprise 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano in their opening match of the new season before beating Espanyol 1-0 in their second fixture.
Imanol Alguacil's side have not managed to triumph since, though, picking up only two points from their last five matches, drawing with Getafe and Real Valladolid, in addition to losing to Alaves, Real Madrid and Mallorca.
The White and Blues opened their 2024-25 Europa League campaign against Nice on Wednesday evening, meanwhile, playing out a 1-1 draw with the French side.
Real Sociedad desperately need a big result to kickstart their campaign, and each of their next three matches are at home, including a European clash with Anderlecht next week.
© Imago
Valencia, meanwhile, have also found it difficult this season, boasting a record of one win, two draws and four defeats from seven games to collect five points, which has left them in 17th position.
Los Che started their campaign with three losses to Barcelona, Celta Vigo and Athletic Bilbao, before drawing with Villarreal, but they then suffered a 3-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid.
One point from five matches represented a very difficult start, but there have been signs of improvement in their last two matches, beating Girona 2-0 before drawing 0-0 with Osasuna.
Ruben Baraja's side are not in Europe this season, so their main focus is on the league, and a positive result in this clash would lead them nicely into their next game with Leganes before the October international break.
Valencia lost both league games against Real Sociedad last season, and they have only been victorious in one of their last seven top-flight meetings with their opponents on Saturday evening.
Team News
© Imago
Real Sociedad will be missing four players through injury on Saturday, with Ander Barrenetxea, Sadiq Umar, Hamari Traore and Arsen Zakharyan unavailable for selection.
Head coach Alguacil will make changes to the side that started in the Europa League, with Nayef Aguerd, Takefusa Kubo and Orri Oskarsson set to return to the XI.
Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to join Oskarsson in the final third of the field, while there is also likely to be a position in the middle of midfield for Benat Turrientes.
As for Valencia, Rafa Mir remains suspended by the club, while Jose Gaya, Jaume Domenech and Mouctar Diakhaby are again unavailable for selection through injury.
There are not expected to be any major surprises in the Valencia side, although there could be a change in central midfield, with Javi Guerra set to return.
Hugo Duro made his return from injury off the bench against Osasuna, and the forward, who has already scored twice this season, is now expected to be brought into the starting XI.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Gomez; Kubo, Zubimendi, Turrientes, Sucic; Oskarsson, Oyarzabal
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Tarrega, Mosquera, Vazquez; Lopez, Guerra, Pepelu, Rioja; Almeida, Duro
We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Valencia
Four of the last seven La Liga meetings between these two sides have finished level, and we can see another draw here. Real Sociedad have home advantage, but the Basque outfit have found it difficult this season, and we are expecting a low-scoring draw on Saturday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
