Alaves vs Real Sociedad Preview: Team News & Prediction
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We have a Basque derby taking place at the Mendizarrozza in this match day as relegation battling Deportivo Alaves take on a frustrated Real Sociedad during the midweek.
Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 23rd April, 2025: UK – 8:30pm / US ET – 3:30pm / US PT – 12:30pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Alaves vs Real Sociedad may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Alaves Preview: In the fight
Deportivo Alaves, under the management of former Celta Vigo boss Eduardo Coudet who surprisingly and perhaps controversially replaced Luis Garcia Plaza in early-December, begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in the bottom three and the relegation places.
The hosts come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Andalusia at the weekend with Kike scoring a first-half stoppage-time equaliser in that game after Gatito Fernandez had given Sevilla a 12th minute lead.
Real Sociedad Preview: Not the real La Real
Real Sociedad boss Imanol Aguacil is under growing pressure in the Basque Country and there is now becoming a generally wide and accepted belief that he will be departing the club at the end of this season as they sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table in La Liga.
La Real head into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw with Villarreal at El Madrigal the other day in a game in which they went 1-0 down before going 2-1 up. They have now managed just two victories in their last 11 matches across all competitions.
Alaves Team News: Abqar out
Manu Garcia has returned from suspension for this week following his red card against Real Madrid about ten days or so ago. However, the hosts will remain without centre-back Abdel Abqar due to a hamstring injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Antonio Sivera; Tenaglia, Fran Garces, Sedlar, Diarra; Joan Jordan, Antonio Blanco; Carlos Vicente, Jon Guridi, Carles Alena; Kike
Unavailable: Abqar (Injured)
Questionable:
Real Sociedad Team News: First-team doubts
Real Sociedad have a few key doubts for this Basque derby with Morocco international centre-back Nayef Ageurd potentially sidelined alongside winger Ander Barrenetxea and Iceland international striker Orri Oskarsson.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Alex Remiro; Traore, Jon Pacheco, Aritz Elustondo, Aihen Munoz; Bryan Turrientes; Kubo, Pablo Marin, Sucic, Sergio Gomez; Mikel Oyarzabal
Unavailable: Igor Zubeldia (Injured), Alvaro Odriozola (Injured0, Zakharyan (Injured)
Questionable: Ageurd (Injured), Ander Barrenetxea (Injured), Oskarsson (Injured)
Alaves vs Real Sociedad Prediction
This Basque derby is between two sides that have been frustrating to watch. Alaves are trying to play a slightly more entertaining style of football and that was the reason for the arrival of Eduardo Coudet but they have still only scored 34 goals in 32 games this season with only four teams having scored fewer than them. One of those sides to score fewer are upcoming opponents Real Sociedad and this does appear to be likely to be a frustrating and low-scoring encounter.
Alaves vs Real Sociedad Tip: Under 2.5 goals