Real Sociedad and Cadiz will both seek to secure back-to-back victories in the Spanish premier league as they clash at Anoeta Stadium on Friday evening.
The hosts will arrive at the encounter following a 3-2 triumph over Granada, while Cadiz, facing the threat of relegation, clinched a 2-0 victory against Atletico Madrid in their recent fixture.
Match preview
Real Sociedad arrived at their encounter with Granada on Saturday amid a streak of four consecutive losses, signaling a precarious situation as the match approached its climax at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.
Nevertheless, Robin Le Normand restored parity in the 80th minute before Andre Silva secured a decisive third goal for the Blue and Whites in the 85th minute, securing only their second victory in their last 11 matches.
Imanol Alguacil’s team suffered defeat in the Copa del Rey semi-finals at the conclusion of February and faced elimination by Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League round of 16. Additionally, their league performance has been underwhelming, with only two wins in their last seven matches.
Having finished fourth in La Liga last season, Real Sociedad currently occupies sixth place in the standings, trailing fourth-placed Atletico Madrid by 12 points and holding a mere one-point advantage over seventh-placed Real Betis.
With the remainder of the season focused solely on league competitions, the Basque side aims to rectify their disappointing home record, having accumulated only 20 points from 13 matches.
Meanwhile, Cadiz enters this fixture buoyed by a significant 2-0 triumph over Atletico Madrid, with Juanmi securing a brace in the home victory over Diego Simeone’s side.
This win marked Cadiz’s first victory in La Liga since early September and only their third league win of the campaign, offering a significant boost to their hopes of avoiding relegation.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s team currently sits in 18th place in the standings with 22 points, just two points adrift of 17th-placed Celta Vigo and within four points of 16th-placed Rayo Vallecano.
Despite their struggles away from home this season, amassing a mere six points from 14 matches without a victory, Cadiz managed to secure a point against Real Sociedad in the previous league campaign and held the Basque side to a goalless draw in their December encounter.
Team News
Real Sociedad will once again face challenges due to several players being sidelined with injuries. Arsen Zakharyan, Aritz Elustondo, Alvaro Odriozola, Martin Merquelanz, and Aihen Munoz will not be available for selection.
Carlos Fernandez’s participation remains uncertain due to a knee problem, while Takefusa Kubo is expected to be fit despite a minor hamstring issue. Umar Sadiq may retain his position as the center-forward over Andre Silva. Additionally, Kieran Tierney might replace Javi Galan in the starting lineup, and Jon Pacheco is poised to return to the squad following a suspension.
On the other side, Cadiz continues to grapple with injury setbacks as Fede San Emeterio, Luis Hernandez, and Roger Marti are still unavailable. Ivan Alejo will miss the match due to suspension after receiving a late booking against Atletico.
Following his impressive performance, Juanmi is likely to continue leading the attacking line, supported by Maxi Gomez. Although Chris Ramos and Alex Fernandez are potential options for changes, manager Pellegrino is expected to maintain the current lineup, considering the team’s performance and result against Simeone’s side.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Tierney; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Sadiq, Oyarzabal
Cadiz possible starting lineup:
Ledesma; Carcelen, Ousou, Chust, J Hernandez; Navarro, Alcaraz, Kouame, Sobrino; Gomez, Juanmi