Two teams who have enjoyed impressive starts to the 2022-23 campaign will lock horns in La Liga on Saturday afternoon, as Real Sociedad welcome Osasuna to Reale Arena.
The home side are currently third in the table, having picked up 26 points from their opening 14 matches, while Osasuna occupy seventh, boasting 23 points from their 14 league games this term.
Match preview
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Real Sociedad have won eight, drawn two and lost four of their 14 league matches this season to collect 26 points, which has left them third in the table, two points ahead of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.
The White and Blues have not finished fourth in Spain's top flight since the 2012-13 season, while they have not been higher than fourth since claiming second in 2002-03, so this could be a historic campaign.
Real Sociedad recorded a 2-1 victory over Sevilla in their last league match on November 9, while they have won twice in the Copa del Rey since their last La Liga fixture, beating Cazalegas 4-1 and CD Coria 5-0 to advance in the competition.
Imanol Alguacil's side also managed to top their Europa League group ahead of Manchester United to secure their spot in the knockout round of the competition, so the team will play a lot of football in the coming weeks.
Real Sociedad have won each of their last three La Liga games against Osasuna, including a 1-0 victory in the corresponding clash last term, while they are unbeaten against Saturday's opponents in Spain's top flight since May 2012.
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Osasuna have also made a brilliant start to the 2022-23 campaign, picking up 23 points from their 14 matches to sit seventh in the table, just three points behind third-placed Real Sociedad.
Los Rojillos were last in league action on November 8, suffering a 2-1 home loss to Barcelona, but they have won twice in the Copa del Rey since their last La Liga encounter, beating both Fuentes and Arnedo to progress in the competition.
Osasuna will next be in Copa del Rey action against Gimnastic Tarragona on January 5, but their immediate focus is on the league, as they bid to end 2022 on a positive note.
Jagoba Arrasate's side have finished 10th, 11th and 10th in their last three La Liga campaigns, but they did claim seventh in 2011-12 and will be eyeing a potential top-six spot this term due to their strong form.
Only Real Sociedad (eight), Real Madrid (11) and Barcelona (12) have won more La Liga matches than Osasuna (seven) this term; they have only scored 16 times in their 14 matches, though, with Ezequiel Avila their leading goalscorer in the league with six.
Team News
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Real Sociedad are again expected to be missing Carlos Fernandez, Martin Merquelanz and Mikel Oyarzabal through injury for this weekend's contest.
Head coach Alguacil selected a strong side against CD Coria in the Copa del Rey, with Diego Rico, Martin Zubimendi, David Silva and Brais Mendez set to be among those to keep their spots.
Mohamed-Ali Cho should also retain his spot in the final third of the field alongside Alexander Sorloth, while Mikel Merino is expected to return in the middle of midfield.
As for Osasuna, head coach Arrasate will make changes to the side that started against Arnedo in the Copa del Rey last time out.
Avila is set to return in the final third of the field, while Juan Cruz, Lucas Torro, Aimar Oroz, Unai Garcia and Aitor Fernandez should also be back in the XI for the contest.
Kike Garcia has put himself in contention to start courtesy of his brace against Arnedo last time out, but it seems likely that he will start among the substitutes on Saturday.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Elustondo, Le Normand, Pacheco, Rico; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; D Silva; Cho, Sorloth
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Vidal, U Garcia, D Garcia, Cruz; R Garcia, Moncayola, Torro, Gomez; Oroz; Avila
We say: Real Sociedad 1-0 Osasuna
This has all of the makings of a very interesting match between two impressive teams. Osasuna are more than good enough to claim a strong result on Saturday, but with Real Sociedad having home advantage, we are just tipping the Basque outfit to shade a close contest at Reale Arena.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
