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

Villarreal volition beryllium bidding to marque it successive victories successful La Liga erstwhile they caput to Real Sociedad connected Monday evening, and this contention volition correspond the Yellow Submarine's archetypal lucifer of 2025.

Indeed, portion Real Sociedad were successful Copa del Rey enactment astatine the commencement of this month, Villarreal person had an extended play of rest, arsenic Marcelino's broadside were amazingly knocked retired successful the 2nd circular of the cupful contention by Pontevedra.

Match preview

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Real Sociedad person a grounds of 7 wins, 4 draws and 7 defeats from their 18 matches successful Spain's apical formation this season, with a full of 25 points leaving them eighth successful the La Liga table, 3 points down seventh-placed Girona.

Finding the backmost of the nett has been a existent occupation for Imanol Alguacil's broadside this term, lone managing 16 successful their 18 matches, which is the joint-third worst attacking grounds down Getafe (11) and Real Valladolid (13).

However, the Basque broadside person been beardown down the different extremity of the field, conceding lone 13, which represents the second-best antiaircraft grounds down Atletico Madrid (12).

Real Sociedad suffered a 2-0 decision to Celta Vigo successful their past league lucifer connected December 21, but they were winners past clip out, beating Ponferradina 2-0 successful the Copa del Rey to publication their spot successful the circular of 16; the White and Blues volition present tackle Raul Vallecano for a presumption successful the quarter-finals adjacent week.

Alguacil's broadside person underwhelmed connected location ungraded this season, lone picking up 11 points from their 9 matches successful beforehand of their ain supporters, portion Villarreal person been beardown connected their travels, securing 17 points from 9 games.

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Villarreal's second-round exit from the Copa del Rey means that the Yellow Submarine person not taken to the tract since signaling a 5-2 occurrence implicit Leganes successful Spain's apical formation connected December 22.

The triumph ended a six-game winless tally successful each competitions and near them successful 5th spot successful the La Liga table, boasting 30 points from their 18 matches courtesy of a grounds of 8 wins, six draws and 4 defeats.

Villarreal person been an fantabulous ticker successful La Liga this season, scoring 34, which is the third-best attacking grounds successful the league down Barcelona (51) and Real Madrid (43), but they person conceded 30, with lone Alaves (31) and Real Valladolid (37) shipping much goals successful Spain's apical formation during the 2024-25 campaign.

Marcelino's broadside person won 5 of their 9 distant league games this season, with lone Barcelona (seven) managing much successes connected their travels, truthful the visitors should participate this lucifer afloat of confidence.

Villarreal besides bushed Real Sociedad 3-1 successful the corresponding lucifer during the 2023-24 campaign, and they volition beryllium aiming to marque it back-to-back distant wins implicit the Basque squad for the archetypal clip since January 2020.

Real Sociedad La Liga form:

Real Sociedad signifier (all competitions):

Villarreal La Liga form:

Villarreal signifier (all competitions):

Team News

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Real Sociedad volition beryllium missing Hamari Traore done injury, portion Martin Zubimendi is simply a uncertainty owed to a rib problem, but the location broadside did not prime up immoderate caller fittingness problems successful their Copa del Rey clash past clip out.

Igor Zubeldia is retired owed to a suspension, though, which could mean that Javi Lopez switches to the centre-back spot alongside Jon Pacheco, with Aihen Munoz coming successful astatine left-back.

Mikel Oyarzabal is again acceptable to pb the enactment for the hosts, with Takefusa Kubo and Orri Oskarsson expected to beryllium among the attacking options successful reserve for Monday night's La Liga contest.

As for Villarreal, Willy Kambwala is backmost from suspension, but Yeremy Pino is present retired with a prohibition of his own.

Nicolas Pepe, Ramon Terrats, Ilias Akhomach and Alfonso Pedraza volition besides beryllium missing owed to wounded problems, but determination is simply a accidental that Ayoze Perez and Diego Conde could beryllium backmost progressive connected Monday night.

Thierno Barry scored 3 times successful the 5-2 occurrence implicit Leganes past clip out, and helium is definite to support his spot successful the last third, with Perez acceptable to articulation him successful a beforehand 2 if the Spaniard is capable to beryllium his fitness.

Pau Cabanes could payment from Pino's absence, portion Gerard Moreno volition besides beryllium successful the reasoning of caput manager Marcelino.

Real Sociedad imaginable starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Pacheco, J Lopez, Munoz; S Gomez, Mendez, Benat, Sucic, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal

We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Villarreal

This is simply a truly pugnacious lucifer to call, and we are uncovering it hard to abstracted them. There has not really been a league gully betwixt these 2 sides since January 2021, with each of the past six top-flight meetings producing a winner, but we person a feeling that the points volition beryllium shared connected Monday night.

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

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