Real Sociedad vs Alaves Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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We have a Basque derby at the Anoeta this weekend with both sides seemingly set to be active in the final week of the transfer window. Deportivo Alaves are under pressure as they head to San Sebastian to face Real Sociedad.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday 28th August, 2024 - 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 Real Sociedad vs Alaves may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
REAL SOCIEDAD PREVIEW: LA REAL FINDING THE GROOVE
In the last few seasons, a pattern has developed in which Real Sociedad play quite an intense pressing style of football, arguably the most intense style of any side in European football and that has led to strong starts to a campaign before falling away quite significantly in the second-half of the season.
Well, this time around, with a fair bit of uncertainty in the summer transfer window, La Real began the campaign with a shock defeat at home to Rayo Vallecano on the opening day of the season. They did make up for that by going to Catalonia to face newly-promoted Espanyol and win by a goal to nil.
ALAVES PREVIEW: SECOND SEASON SYNDROME
In the 2022/23 campaign, Alaves gained promotion back to La Liga and then enjoyed a very impressive campaign in which they had managed to squeeze themselves into the top-half of the table by the end of it – despite rumours suggesting that Luis Garcia Plaza may be sacked mid-way through the campaign.
The Basque club have started this season quite slowly, though. They began their campaign by going to Galicia to face Celta Vigo at Balaidos on the opening day and suffered a 2-1 loss in that one. They followed that up by being held to a goalless draw at home to Real Betis with Aleksandar Sedlar being sent off in the 86th minute.
REAL SOCIEDAD TEAM NEWS: LA REAL’S BOX MIDFIELD
In what is a 4-2-3-1 system in possession, Real Sociedad’s intense pressing stems from the aggression of what is a box midfield that has been disrupted by the sale of Mikel Merino to Arsenal and transfer rumours surrounding Martin Zubimendi.
They also have defensive injury issues with both Igor Zubeldia and Alvaro Odriozola sidelined for La Real with winger Ander Barrenetxea also sidelined still for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Alex Remiro; Traore, Aritz Elustondo, Jon Pacheco, Javi Lopez; Martin Zubimendi; Sergi Gomez, Brais Mendez, Bryan Turrientes, Becker; Mikel Oyarzabal
UNAVAILABLE: Igor Zubeldia (Injured), Alvaro Odriozola (Injured), Zakharyan (Injured), Ander Barrenetxea (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ALAVES TEAM NEWS: SEDLAR SUSPENSION
As mentioned, centre-back Aleksandar Sedlar was sent off late on against Real Betis at the weekend so he will be suspended for this week and that will force at least one change to the Alaves eleven.
However, up against a relatively strong Betis side at Mendizzarozza, they were quite impressive so may not make any other unchanged other than the enforced Sedlar switch.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Antonio Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Diarra, Manu Sanchez; Carlos Vicente, Antonio Blanco, Ander Guevara, Conechny; Stoichkov, Kike
UNAVAILABLE: Sedlar (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
REAL SOCIEDAD VS ALAVES PREDICTION
Imanol Aguacil and his Real Sociedad side would like to believe that their loss at home to Rayo Vallecano on the opening day of the season was well and truly a one off with Alaves now coming to town, they will be hoping to build on their victory at the weekend. Alaves showed just how stubborn they could be against Betis, though, and the lack of precision and subtlety of the hosts may well prove to be an issue. La Real are favourites but it may have to be a grind.
REAL SOCIEDAD VS ALAVES TIP: REAL SOCIEDAD TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
