Sports Mole previews Saturday’s La Liga clash between Real Sociedad and Las Palmas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Real Sociedad will look to bounce back from their defeat against Real Madrid by continuing their La Liga campaign at home. Las Palmas Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are sixth in the La Liga table, two points ahead of seventh-placed Real Betis, while Las Palmas sit 14th, 11 points clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining.
Match Preview
© Reuters
Real Sociedad were beaten 1-0 at home by Real Madrid last time out, with the Basque side’s winless streak in the Spanish top flight stretching to three matches all but ending their hopes already slim to place among the first four in the last stages. in the countryside.
Imanol AlguacilThe Madrid team are sixth in the table, seven points behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao and 13 points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid. She will therefore focus on maintaining her current place, which would allow her to qualify directly for the group stage of the Europa League next season.
However, the Whites and Blues are just two points ahead of seventh-placed Real Betis, while eighth-placed Valencia are just four points behind, so a lot could change over the next two matches .
Real Sociedad, who finished fourth in La Liga last season, have won just six of their 16 home league matches this season, with consistency proving to be a problem in front of their own fans.
Real meanwhile are having a difficult end to the campaign, facing Barcelona, Valencia, Real Betis and Atletico in their four games after this one, demonstrating the importance of securing all three points here.
© Reuters
Las Palmas are currently the least in-form team in La Liga, having suffered six defeats in a row, including a 2-0 loss to Girona last time out, while they are without a win since February 10.
Garcia PimientaThe team appear to have enough credit in the bank due to their strong form in the first half of the campaign, so there are no serious fears of relegation heading into the home stretch.
Los Amarillos are 14th in the La Liga table with 37 points, 11 points clear of 18th-placed Cadiz with five matches remaining, and only a huge turnaround would see them in trouble at this late stage of the season.
Las Palmas are therefore heading for two consecutive seasons in the top flight after their promotion last season, and are now looking to consolidate themselves at this level again.
Pio Pio held Real Sociedad to a goalless draw when the two sides met earlier this season, but they have failed to defeat the Basque side in the Spanish top flight since March 2016.
Real Sociedad La Liga form:
Las Palmas form in La Liga:
Team News
©Reuters
Real Sociedad will once again be missing five injured players this weekend, with Aihen Muñoz, Kieran Tierney, Hamari Traore, Martin Merquelanz And Carlos Fernandez out of the competition.
Hosts will also have to deal with the lack of Igor Zubeldiawho will serve a one-match suspension due to the yellow card he received during the last confrontation with Real Madrid.
The absence of Zubeldia should result in Aritz Elustondo entering the final four, while there could be a change in the final third of the field, with Sheraldo Becker potentially introduced at the bottom left.
As for Las Palmas, Barcelona defender on loan Julien Araujo That remains a doubt, but the visitors are otherwise in good form, having reported no new fitness issues.
Changes are expected from the team that started against Girona last time out, with Munir El Haddadi And Sergi Cardona both likely to return to the XI.
Sandro Ramirez And Daley Sinkgraven could be the two players to go down on the bench, with Marvin Park again, it should be in an advanced area on the bottom right.
Possible Real Sociedad starting line-up:
Remiro; Odriozola, Elustondo, Le Normand, Galan; Benat, Zubimendi, Merinos; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Becker
Possible starting lineup of Las Palmas:
Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, S Cardona; Park, Munoz, Perrone, K. Rodriguez, Moleiro; Munir
We say: Real Sociedad 2-0 Las Palmas
Real Sociedad aren’t exactly flying at the moment, but the Basque side will be keen to beat a seriously out-of-form Las Palmas side. The hosts need points to boost their hopes of winning the Europa League next season, and we expect them to win this weekend.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.