Levante vs Real Sociedad Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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It has been a very tough season for Levante as the newly-promoted strugglers now welcome a similarly underperforming Real Sociedad side to Estadio Ciutat de Valencia.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Levante preview: Struggling Levante
Following their automatic promotion back to the top-flight last season, Levante have had to take the decision to part company with Julian Calero as, despite impressive performances at the start of this season, they have been cut adrift at the bottom.
The Valencians begin this weekend’s round of fixtures with just two victories in 15 matches, sitting six points adrift of city rivals Valencia in 17th after their game against Villarreal was postponed due to inclement weather last weekend.
Real Sociedad preview: Change for La Real
Over the summer, as Imanol Alguacil departed for Al Shabab, Real Sociedad took the decision to appoint another B team coach, Sergio Francisco, but he has now been sacked and replaced yet another B team coach, Ion Ansotegi, on an interim basis.
La Real begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just a point outside of the bottom three and the relegation places. The visitors have now suffered three successive defeats in La Liga before a 2-1 win against lower leagye Eldense in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
Levante team news: No Etta Eyong
Villarreal striker Etta Eyong is now unavailable for Levante as the Cameroonian international striker is away at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the next few weeks.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Ryan; Toljan, Matturro, Jorge Cabello, Manu Sanchez; Carlos Alvarez, Kervin Arriaga, Unai Vencedor, Jose Luis Morales; Ivan Romero, Koyalipou
Unavailable: Unai Elgezabal (Injured), Brugui (Injured), Eyong (International duty)
Questionable: Dela (Injured)
Real Sociedad team news: Several doubts
Real Sociedad how down south with plenty of key injury doubts for this one, as Mikel Oyarzabal is potentially sidelined alongside the likes of fellow attackers Ander Barrenetxea and Orri Oskarsson.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Alex Remiro; Calera-Car, Jon Martin, Aritz Elustondo, Sergi Gomez; Kubo, Julen Gorrotxategi, Carlos Soler, Guedes; Sadiq, Brais Mendez
Unavailable: Inaki Ruperez (Injured)
Questionable: Jon Aramburu (Injured), Yangel Herrera (Injured), Ander Barrenetxea (Injured), Oskarsson (Injured), Mikel Oyarzabal (Injured)
Levante vs Real Sociedad prediction
Quite frustratingly for Levante, the two players that had really performed for them, or at least provided some sort of spark in the final third, Brugui and former Villarreal striker Etta Eyong, are now unavailable. That will hurt them, alongside the fact that they have tried to become more defensive. They face a Real Sociedad side that will be content with the avoidance of a fairly embarrassing stumble away from home, but they remain slight favourites to pinch all three points.
Levante vs Real Sociedad tip: Real Sociedad to win & under 3.5 goals
