Form and Line-up of Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad sit eighth in the La Liga table with 45 points after 36 rounds and have already booked a place in the Europa League as winners of the Copa del Rey. After the April final against Atletico, the home team really dipped in the league: five matches without a win, three draws and two defeats. In Girona Real Sociedad had to settle for just a draw (1:1), so the run-in is still nervous: formally the team are above the danger zone, but with the table so tight they cannot afford to drift.
Key numbers:
- Five La Liga matches without a win since the Copa del Rey final: three draws and two defeats.
Over this spell Real Sociedad have scored six goals and conceded eight.
Real Sociedad have drawn or lost in all of their last five matches.
Mikel Oyarzabal is the team’s top scorer in La Liga with 15 goals.
Probable line-up (4-4-2): Alex Remiro — Jon Aramburu, Jon Martin, Duje Caleta-Car, Sergio Gomez — Takefusa Kubo, Jon Gorrochategui, Yangel Herrera, Ander Barrenetxea — Luka Sucic, Mikel Oyarzabal.
Absentees: Goncalo Guedes — ankle injury. Alvaro Odriozola — knee injury. Arsen Zakharyan — doubtful.
Form and Line-up of Valencia
Valencia under Carlos Corberan are 11th with 43 points after 36 rounds. They are five points off seventh place, but something else is more important: the team still cannot breathe easily in the battle to secure their place in La Liga. In May the visitors have taken four points from three rounds: they lost at home to Atletico (0:2), beat Athletic in Bilbao (1:0) and drew with Rayo Vallecano (1:1). After the draw with Rayo, Corberan said directly that there are six points left in play and they have to fight for each of them.
Key numbers:
- Valencia have won or drawn four of their last five matches.
Away from home Valencia score around 0.8 goals per match — their attacking play on the road remains a weak point.
The team have 68 yellow cards in La Liga — one of the lowest figures of the season.
In eight of the last nine head-to-head matches between these sides, Under 2.5 goals has landed.
Probable line-up (4-4-2): Stole Dimitrievski — Unai Nunez, Cesar Tarrega, Eray Comert, Jesus Vazquez — Diego Lopez, Guido Rodriguez, Pepelu, Luis Rioja — Javi Guerra, Hugo Duro.
Absentees: Jose Copete — knee injury. Dimitri Foulquier — knee injury. Jose Luis Gaya — muscle injury. Renzo Saravia — doubtful.
