Preview: Elche vs. Real Sociedad - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Sociedad will be bidding to continue their strong run of form in La Liga when they make the trip to Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on Sunday evening to take on Elche.

The visitors, who occupy sixth spot in the table, recorded a 1-0 victory over Espanyol last time out, while Elche will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

Match preview

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Elche finished 17th in La Liga last season, and they are bidding to make it back-to-back campaigns at this level of football for the first time since 2015.

Los Franjiverdes have had their problems this term, but a total of 32 points from 30 matches has left them in 15th spot in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone, so they are in a strong position to avoid being relegated back to the Segunda Division.

Francisco's side have been on a worrying run of form in recent weeks, though, losing four of their last five in the league, including their last two against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao either side of the international break.

Elche have only lost four of their 14 home league matches this season, recording five wins in the process, but they have lost each of their last three top-flight contests against Real Sociedad, including a 1-0 defeat in the reverse match between the two sides earlier this term.

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Real Sociedad, meanwhile, were 1-0 winners over Espanyol on April 4, securing an important three points courtesy of a last-gasp penalty from Alexander Isak.

The Basque outfit have been victorious in four of their last six league matches, suffering just one defeat in the process, while they have picked up seven points from their last three games against Alaves, Sevilla and Espanyol, which has kept them in the mix for a top-four finish.

Real Sociedad are currently sixth in the table, six points behind fourth-placed Sevilla on the same number of matches (30), while they are now six points clear of seventh-placed Villarreal.

From this position, it would be a surprise if Imanol Alguacil's side did not finish in a European spot, but they have some tough matches ahead, taking on Real Betis and Barcelona in their next two after this one.

The White and Blues, who finished fifth in Spain's top flight last season, have won five, drawn five and lost five for their 15 away league games this term, while they have lost just one of their last six La Liga matches against Elche, recording five wins in the process.

Team News

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Elche will be boosted by the return of Antonio Barragan and Javier Pastore from suspension, but Lucas Boye is expected to miss out due to the injury that he picked up against Athletic last time out.

Boye's absence will open the door for Ezequiel Ponce to feature alongside Pere Milla in the final third of the field, with Tete Morente and Fidel operating in the wide areas.

Barragan should be back in the side at right-back, but the midfield is likely to be unchanged from the clash against Athletic, with Ivan Marcone playing alongside Gerard Gumbau.

As for Real Sociedad, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nacho Monreal, Carlos Fernandez and Ander Barrenetxea will miss the contest through injury.

However, the visitors will be boosted by the return of Adnan Januzaj, and it would not be a surprise to see the Belgian return to the starting XI in a forward position.

There is also expected to be a change in the middle of the park, with Mikel Merino pushing to replace Rafinha.

Januzaj's return could see Isak move from a wide area to the centre-forward spot, while David Silva and Portu are also set to keep their starting roles in the final third of the field on Sunday.

Elche possible starting lineup:

Badia; Barragan, Gonzalez, Bigas, Olaza; Morente, Marcone, Gumbau, Fidel; Milla, Ponce

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Gorosabel, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Rico; Zubimendi, Merino; Portu, D Silva, Januzaj; Isak

We say: Elche 1-2 Real Sociedad

Elche are more than capable of making this a difficult match for Real Sociedad, who need to keep winning to stay in touch with the top four. The home side certainly have enough quality to find the back of the net, but we are expecting the visitors to claim an important three points on Sunday.