Real Sociedad is set to extend their unbeaten streak when they face Elche in La Liga on Saturday. Currently, they sit eighth in the standings, six points behind sixth-placed Espanyol. Elche, on the other hand, holds the 13th position, just two points above the relegation zone.
Match Preview: Real Sociedad vs Elche
Real Sociedad is among the top-performing teams in La Liga, having turned their season around following a rocky start. They remain unbeaten in their last six league matches, contributing to an impressive nine-game undefeated streak across all competitions. Their recent victory over Alaves, a 3-2 win, secured them a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
In contrast, Elche is struggling, having drawn their last match, 1-1, against Athletic Bilbao. They managed only five victories, nine draws, and eight defeats in 22 matches this season, earning a total of 24 points. This leaves them two points ahead of the relegation zone.
Head-to-Head Record
- Real Sociedad has won 26 of the 48 encounters with Elche.
- Elche has secured only 12 victories against La Real.
- The last victory for Elche against Sociedad in La Liga dates back to April 2015.
- Elche has not won at Real Sociedad since January 2010.
In their previous meeting this season, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, marking a challenging task for Elche as they seek to improve their away form. Currently, they have the worst away record in the league, having failed to win any of their last 10 games on the road, accumulating only four points.
Team News
Real Sociedad will miss several key players due to injuries, including Inaki Ruperez, Takefusa Kubo, and Unai Marrero. Brais Mendez is also suspended following a red card in the recent Basque derby. Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored nine goals thus far, will remain a critical player for the home side.
Elche’s lineup may see some changes as Lucas Cepeda debuted off the bench in their last game. However, Hector Fort will remain sidelined due to injury, along with doubts surrounding Rafa Mir and Josan. Andre Silva and Alvaro Rodriguez are expected to lead Elche’s attack on Saturday.
Possible Lineups
| Real Sociedad | Elche |
|---|---|
| Remiro | Pena |
| Aramburu | Chust |
| Martin | Affengruber |
| Zubeldia | Bigas |
| Gomez | Pedrosa |
| Gorrotxategi | Febas |
| Soler | Aguado |
| Guedes | Valera |
| Succic | Capeda |
| Oyarzabal | Silva |
| Martin | Rodriguez |
Predicting the outcome, it seems likely that Real Sociedad will secure a home win, capitalizing on their current form against an Elche team facing difficulties on away fixtures.
