Valencia vs Real Sociedad Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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It is all change at Valencia and their new era began well in midweek as Los Che now welcome a frustrated Real Sociedad side to Mestalla on Sunday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – 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 – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Valencia preview: Win in midweek
After a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla last weekend, Valencia made some changes in their hierarchy as well as sacking former West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan, with Oscar Sanchez now in situ on an initial interim basis.
The Valencians began that new era with a slender 1-0 defeat of Deportivo Alaves at the Mendizorroza in the Basque Country on Tuesday, courtesy of a 78th minute winner scored by the versatile Luis Rioja.
Real Sociedad preview: Frustrated La Real
Pellegrino Matarazzo led Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey in the second half of last season after immense improvement following his improvement in the winter break but La Real have now underwhelmed for a while and that continued the other day.
The Basque giants began the league phase of this season’s UEFA Europa League with a 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth at the Reale Arena, failing to peg back an evidently fatigued and panicking Bournemouth side late on.
Valencia team news: Luis Rioja now a doubt
The midweek match-winner Luis Rioja is now a doubt for Valencia this weekend with Cesar Tarrega also unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Dimitrievski; Pablo Maffeo, Pepelu, De Haas, Jose Luis Gaya; Ugrinic, Mayol, Rodriguez, Danjuma; Javi Guerra; Hugo Duro
Unavailable: Diakhaby (Injured), Cesar Tarrega (Injured), Copete (Injured), Sergi Canos (Injured), Diego Lopez (Injured), Sadiq (Injured)
Questionable: Foulquier (Fitness), Luis Rioja (Injured)
Real Sociedad team news: Couple of issues
Real Sociedad head to Mestalla with a couple of injury issues for this one as centre-back Igor Zubeldia is a doubt with Alvaro Odriozola a confirmed absentee.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alex Remiro; Jon Aramburu, Jon Pacheco, Sarr, Sergio Gomez; Yangel Herrera, Carlos Soler; Guedes, Sucic, Ander Barrenetxea; Mikel Oyarzabal
Unavailable: Alvaro Odriozola (Injured)
Questionable: Igor Zubeldia (Injured)
Valencia vs Real Sociedad prediction
That defeat to The Cherries the other day means that Real Sociedad have won just two of their opening seven matches across all competitions after finishing last season with a seven-match winless run after winning the cup. Valencia may not sustain their ‘new manager bounce’ to ensure survival but this one may be a perfect opportunity to get another crucial victory at Mestalla before the international break.
Valencia vs Real Sociedad tip: Double chance – Valencia to win or draw
