Sports Mole previews Sunday’s La Liga clash between Villarreal and Real Sociedad, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Villarreal will be aiming to make it successive wins in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a home fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon.
The Yellow Submarine are currently fifth in the La Liga table, which is now a Champions League spot in Spain’s top flight, while Real Sociedad are ninth, two points behind eighth-placed Mallorca in the battle for Europe.
Match preview
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Villarreal have been handed a major boost, as fifth spot in La Liga has now been confirmed to be a Champions League position, with the Yellow Submarine therefore currently qualifying for the league phase of next season’s competition.
Marcelino‘s side have a record of 14 wins, nine draws and seven defeats from their 30 league matches this season, which has left them in fifth spot, six points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao and three points ahead of sixth-placed Real Betis.
Sixth and seventh will be Europa League spots in La Liga, while the team in eighth will qualify for the Conference League playoffs, but there is absolutely no question that the Champions League is the team’s main goal this term.
Villarreal will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Real Betis, which made it seven points from their last three matches, and they now have two important games against Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo in quick succession.
The Yellow Submarine have actually only won five of their 14 home La Liga matches this season, but Real Sociedad have also been underwhelming on their travels, claiming just 18 points from 15 games.
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Real Sociedad will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 home loss to Mallorca, which ended a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions for the Basque side, who have struggled to find their best level for the majority of this season.
Imanol Alguacil‘s side are not involved in a top-five battle at this stage, sitting 10 points behind fifth-placed Villarreal, but they are only two points off both eighth-placed Mallorca and seventh-placed Celta Vigo, so European football for next season is certainly achievable.
Real Sociedad have had real trouble finding the back of the net this season, only scoring 30 times, which is the third-worst attacking record in the division, and they will be coming up against a Villarreal side that have netted 53 times in La Liga this term.
La Real recorded a 1-0 victory over Villarreal in the reverse match between the sides earlier this season, while it was 3-0 to the Basque outfit in the corresponding fixture during the 2023-24 campaign.
Villarreal La Liga form:
Real Sociedad La Liga form:
Real Sociedad form (all competitions):
Team News
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Villarreal will welcome Papa Gueye back into their squad, with the midfielder serving a suspension against Real Betis, but Ilias Akhomach remains on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury.
The Yellow Submarine also have doubts over all of Gerard Moreno, Alex Baena, Ayoze Perez, Alfonso Pedraza and Raul Albiol, so the home side could be missing some important players for Sunday’s contest.
Perez is expected to shake off an injury issue to continue in the final third of the field, but the likely absence of Pedraza could open the door for Denis Suarez to feature in the starting side.
As for Real Sociedad, Martin Zubimendi will be out of the contest due to a suspension, while Arsen Zakharyan and Sheraldo Becker are definitely unavailable for selection through injury.
Checks will also need to be made on Nayef Aguerd, Ander Barrenetxea, Igor Zubeldia and Alvaro Odriozola, with Real Sociedad also having a number of availability concerns heading into this weekend’s contest.
Mikel Oyarzabal is set to lead the away side’s line on Sunday, with Pablo Marin in the number 10 spot, but Barrenetxea’s expected absence should open the door for Sergio Gomez to feature in the XI.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Luiz Junior; Femenia, Foyth, L Costa, S Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Parejo, Suarez; Barry, Perez
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Martin, Elustondo, Munoz; Sucic, Benat; Kubo, Marin, S Gomez; Oyarzabal
We say: Villarreal 1-1 Real Sociedad
Both teams are set to be missing some important players on Sunday, and we are expecting it to be a close match; Villarreal’s best work in La Liga this season has come on their travels, and the Yellow Submarine may have to settle for a point here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
