Elche vs Real Sociedad Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Elche are expected to struggle this season and it has been a poor start as they welcome a stuttering Real Sociedad side to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
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How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Elche preview: Struggling Elche
Having gained promotion to La Liga in the 2024-25 campaign, Eder Sarabia managed to eventually steer them clear of the bottom three and the relegation places on the final day of last season.
After a poor stint in charge of FC Porto last year, Martin Anselmi is now struggling at Elche with the hosts having collected just one point from their opening three matches of the campaign.
Real Sociedad preview: Stuttering La Real
Pellegrino Matarazzo managed to lead Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey last season but after doing so La Real struggled at the back end of last year and they have stuttered at the start of this season.
Back-to-back defeats were followed by a hard-fought 2-1 defeat of Espanyol at the Reale Arena last week, seemingly turning the corner, but they were then held to a frustrating goalless draw by an underperforming Celta Vigo side in midweek.
Elche team news: A few doubts
Fer Nino has been key for Elche this season but he is now a key doubt for this weekend alongside both midfielder Yago Santiago and forward Adam Boayar.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Matias Dituro; Victor Chust, Federico Redondo, Pablo Bigas; Baba Sangare, Marcos Aguado, Gustavo Villar, German Valera; Buonanotte, Houary; Ezequiel Ponce
Unavailable:
Questionable: Yago Santiago (Injured), Boayar (Injured), Fer Nino (Injured)
Real Sociedad team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury issues for Real Sociedad to deal with as academy graduates Jon Pacheco and Pablo Marin working their way back to full fitness.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Alex Remiro; Jon Aramburu, Igor Zubeldia, Jonas Martin, Sergio Gomez; Kubo, Benat Turrientes, Yangel Herrera, Ander Barrenetxea; Oskarsson, Mikel Oyarzabal
Unavailable: Alvaro Odriozola (Injured)
Questionable: Jon Pacheco (Injured), Pablo Marin (Injured)
Elche vs Real Sociedad prediction
Former Hoffenheim boss Pellegrino Matarazzo has done a good job at Real Sociedad and he talks a good game but he could do with them rediscovering the form and consistency that they showed in the early part of his reign. That said, they are coming up against an Elche side that are already realising the expectation of being a poor team this season and so siding with the visitors remains the way to go for this one in the Community of Valencia.
Elche vs Real Sociedad tip: Real Sociedad to win
