Real Sociedad will be aiming to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Leganes to Reale Arena on Sunday night.
The Basque outfit are currently 11th in the La Liga table, four points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano, while Leganes sit in 16th, one point clear of the relegation zone, demonstrating the importance of this weekend's match for both sides.
Match preview
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Real Sociedad booked their spot in the last-16 stage of the Europa League on Thursday night courtesy of a 5-2 home success over FC Midtjylland, which secured a 7-3 aggregate victory for the La Liga club in the playoff knockout round.
The Basque side will take on Manchester United in the knockout round of the competition, with the first leg set to take place on March 6, while they are also present in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, facing Real Madrid in the first leg next week.
Real Sociedad will also tackle Barcelona in La Liga on March 1, so it is an incredibly busy period of the season for Imanol Alguacil's side, who have largely underwhelmed in Spain's top flight this season.
Indeed, a record of nine wins, four draws and 11 defeats from 24 matches has brought them 31 points, which is only enough for 11th spot in the table, but they are just four points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano in the race for Europe.
La Real have struggled to play their best football at home in the league this season, picking up just 17 points from 12 matches, but Leganes have just one away La Liga victory to their name this term.
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Leganes will enter Sunday's match off the back of a 3-3 draw with Alaves; Dani Raba scored twice from the penalty spot to make it 1-0 and then 2-1 to Borja Jimenez's side, but they ultimately needed a late goal from Munir El Haddadi to secure a share of the spoils.
El Lega are the reigning Segunda Division champions, and any spot over 18th would be considered to be a success for the team this season, so by that measure, their campaign to date has been a strong one.
Indeed, 24 points have been secured from 24 matches courtesy of a record of five wins, nine draws and 10 defeats, with the team currently in 16th, but they are only one point outside of the relegation zone.
Leganes have just one away league win to their name this term, but they have shared the points on seven occasions on their travels in 2024-25, suffering only four defeats in the process, which is just one more than high-flying Villarreal.
Real Sociedad recorded a 3-0 victory when the two sides met in the reverse match earlier this season, but it was 1-1 when the two sides last locked horns at the home of the Basque outfit in November 2019.
Team News
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Real Sociedad will be without the services of two players through suspension on Sunday, with Sheraldo Becker and Igor Zubeldia both banned due to the red cards that they received against Real Betis last time out.
Hamari Traore remains a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury, while Urko Gonzalez and Jon Pacheco are also fitness doubts.
Head coach Alguacil will recall Martin Zubimendi to his starting side this weekend, while there could also be a spot in a wide area for Takefusa Kubo, with Mikel Oyarzabal again featuring through the middle for the Basque team.
As for Leganes, Enric Franquesa will again miss out due to a long-term knee injury, but Yvan Neyou will be back in the squad after serving a suspension against Alaves last time out.
The visitors will be unable to call upon Munir, though, as the forward was sent off in the latter stages of the 3-3 draw with Alaves, just six minutes after finding the back of the net.
Raba, fresh from his brace against Alaves, will again feature down the right, while there will also be spots in the final third of the field for Juan Cruz and Diego Garcia.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Elustondo, Aguerd, Munoz; Sucic, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Leganes possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Rosier, Gonzalez, Nastasic, J Hernandez; Neyou, Cisse; Raba, Brasanac, Cruz; D Garcia
We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 Leganes
Leganes have only lost four of their 12 away league games this season, while Real Sociedad have posted just five victories from their 12 home La Liga fixtures - it would not be a surprise to see a draw on Sunday, but we believe that Real Sociedad's extra quality will allow them to secure all three points this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
