Preview: Ponferradina vs. Real Sociedad - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Sociedad volition beryllium aiming to publication their spot successful the last-16 signifier of the Copa del Rey erstwhile they instrumentality connected third-tier outfit Ponferradina connected Sunday afternoon.

The visitors suffered a 2-0 decision to Celta Vigo successful their past lucifer successful La Liga earlier the wintertime break, but Ponferradina volition bring a four-game winning tally into the clash successful the last-32 signifier of the Copa del Rey.

Match preview

Ponferradina play their league shot successful Spain's 3rd tier, but they person spent 10 seasons successful the 2nd tier during their history, past competing astatine that level successful 2022-23 earlier being relegated.

La Deportiva volition bring a four-game winning tally into this match, with a beardown league run to day leaving them successful 3rd spot successful Group 1 of the Primera Division RFEF, six points down the leaders Cultural Leonesa.

Javi Rey's broadside person beaten Escobedo and Castellon, some connected penalties, successful the aboriginal rounds of this season's Copa del Rey, and they are aiming to advancement to the circular of 16 for the archetypal clip successful their history.

Ponferradina are unbeaten connected location ungraded successful each competitions since September 22, but this volition undoubtedly beryllium their toughest trial of the campaign, arsenic the squad presently seventh successful the La Liga table marque the travel to Estadio El Toralin.

© Imago

Real Sociedad suffered a 2-0 decision to Celta Vigo past clip out, portion they were besides held to a goalless gully by Las Palmas connected December 15, truthful the Basque outfit person conscionable 1 constituent to amusement from their past 2 league games.

A full of 25 points from 18 La Liga fixtures has near them successful seventh spot successful the table, 5 points down sixth-placed Mallorca and 11 from Athletic Bilbao successful fourth, with Imanol Alguacil's broadside having their problems this season.

The White and Blues person a batch connected their sheet astatine the moment, arsenic they are besides battling to scope the adjacent signifier of the Europa League, with the squad presently 12th successful the wide table, boasting 10 points from six matches.

It would beryllium just to accidental that the Copa del Rey is 3rd connected their database of priorities this season, but this is simply a contention that the nine person won connected 3 occasions, including successful 2019-20, erstwhile they overcame Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao successful the final.

Alguacil's broadside person made the quarter-finals doubly and semi-finals successful their past 3 campaigns, meanwhile, truthful it would beryllium a astonishment if they were not contiguous successful the second stages of the tournament.

Ponferradina Copa del Rey form:

Ponferradina signifier (all competitions):

Real Sociedad Copa del Rey form:

Real Sociedad signifier (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Ponferradina caput manager Rey could sanction the aforesaid broadside that took to the tract for the archetypal whistle against Castellon successful the erstwhile circular of the competition, with squad players expected to beryllium rewarded erstwhile again.

Jose Luis Cortes has lone scored doubly successful 17 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, but helium is acceptable to proceed successful the last 3rd of the field, portion determination should besides beryllium a spot successful the XI for Yeray Cabanzon.

As for Real Soicedad, Arsen Zakharyan, Aritz Elustondo and Hamari Traore are retired of the contention done injury, portion Alvaro Odriozola remains a uncertainty owed to a muscular problem.

Head manager Alguacil volition ringing the changes for this fixture, with Orri Oskarsson apt to run done the middle, portion determination should besides beryllium spots successful the broadside for Sheraldo Becker and Pablo Marin.

There remains speculation surrounding Martin Zubimendi's future, with the midfielder believed to beryllium connected Manchester City's radar this month, and helium is expected to beryllium among those rested by the La Liga broadside this weekend.

Ponferradina imaginable starting lineup:
Jimenez; Jorrin, Novoa, Lanco, A Lopez; Doue, Lozano; Gomez, Valle, Cabanzon; Cortes

We say: Ponferradina 0-2 Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad person scored six times and conceded zero successful their 2 Copa del Rey matches this season, and we are afloat expecting the Basque broadside to unafraid different triumph present successful bid to advancement to the last-16 signifier of the competition.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer please click here.

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