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

Fresh from booking their spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, Valencia will resume their La Liga campaign with a home match against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon.

Los Che are currently 10th in the table, boasting 29 points from 22 matches, while Real Sociedad sit sixth, having collected 34 points from their 21 league games this term.

Match preview

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Valencia suffered a 3-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in their last league match before the break, with the result contributing to them dropping down into 10th position in the table, five points off the top six.

However, Los Che managed to return to winning ways on Wednesday evening, securing their spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 2-1 win over Cadiz, with Goncalo Guedes and Hugo Duro on the scoresheet for the home side at Mestalla.

Valencia will now be bidding to end a four-game winless run in La Liga, which has seen them pick up just a single point, losing to Espanyol, Real Madrid and Atletico during a tough set of fixtures.

The six-time Spanish champions finished 13th in La Liga last season - their worst campaign since claiming 14th in 1987-88 - but the club have shown a lot of improvement this term and are capable of challenging for a top-six spot.

Jose Bordalas's side have only won four of their 11 home league games this term, though, and will need to improve their form at Mestalla in order to finish higher up the division.

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Real Sociedad were also in Copa del Rey quarter-final action on Thursday evening, but the Basque outfit were on the end of a 4-0 loss at home to Real Betis, so they exited the competition in dramatic fashion.

Imanol Alguacil's side are unbeaten in their last three league games but have recently been held by Alaves and Getafe, while they have only been victorious in one of their last eight fixtures in Spain's top flight.

Real Sociedad have won nine, drawn seven and lost five of their 21 La Liga matches this term to collect 34 points, which has left them in sixth spot in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

The White and Blues will certainly believe that they are capable of finishing in the top four this season, especially with Atletico and Barcelona having underwhelming campaigns.

Real Sociedad have only beaten Valencia once in La Liga since April 2017, though, and the last two league matches between the two sides have finished level.

Team News

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Valencia will be missing Omar Alderete, Jasper Cillessen and Gabriel Paulista for this weekend's match through injury, but the home side are otherwise in good shape.

The team is expected to be similar to the one that started against Cadiz in the Copa del Rey, with on-loan Tottenham Hotspur attacker Bryan Gil making his league debut for the club.

Head coach Bordalas does have plenty of options for change, though, with Maxi Gomez, Helder Costa and Marcos Andre among those pushing for spots in the team.

As for Real Sociedad, Ander Barrenetxea, Nacho Monreal and Carlos Fernandez have all been ruled out of the contest due to fitness issues.

Head coach Alguacil is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to the side that started the four-goal loss to Real Betis in the Copa del Rey.

However, there is likely to be an alteration in midfield, with Martin Zubimendi coming in for Ander Guevara, while Rafinha and Alexander Sorloth are options for change in the forward areas.

Valencia possible starting lineup:
Domenech; Correia, Comert, Diakhaby, Gaya; Foulquier, Soler, Guillamon, Gil; Duro, Guedes

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Zaldua, Elustondo, Le Normand, Munoz; Zubimendi, Merino; Rafinha, D Silva, Oyarzabal; Isak

We say: Valencia 1-1 Real Sociedad

This should be an intriguing match, particularly as both sides will enter the contest off the back of Copa del Rey encounters. Both managers will be hoping to secure a huge three points, but we are finding it difficult to separate the two sides, ultimately settling on a low-scoring draw.

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