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Real Sociedad logo
La Liga | Gameweek 30
Apr 22, 2023 at 5.30pm UK
Reale Arena
Rayo Vallecano logo

Real Sociedad
2 - 1
Rayo Vallecano

Sorloth (59'), Lejeune (81' og.)
Munoz (90+2')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Isi (57')
Valentin (69'), Comesana (72')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Real Sociedad will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to San Sebastian on Saturday evening.

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby, while Rayo recorded a 2-1 victory over Osasuna in their last La Liga match.


Match preview

Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil reacts on March 9, 2023© Reuters

Real Sociedad remain in fourth position in the table, picking up 51 points from their 29 matches, but they are only three points behind fifth-placed Real Betis in the battle to secure a top-four finish.

Villarreal are also involved in the race for fourth, sitting just four points off the final Champions League spot, and Real Sociedad have had a wobble at the worst possible time of the campaign, only winning twice in Spain's top flight since the middle of February.

Imanol Alguacil's side have managed to overcome Elche and Getafe in their last two games in front of their own supporters, but they have lost their last two away from home against Villarreal and Athletic.

The Basque outfit have a huge game away to Real Betis next Wednesday, and they must start to regain some consistency entering the final straight in order to hold onto fourth position in the table.

Alguacil's team recorded a 2-0 win over Rayo in the reverse match earlier this season, while they have not lost to the capital outfit in Spain's top flight since January 2015.

Rayo Vallecano coach Andoni Iraola at half time on April 9, 2023© Reuters

Rayo will enter this contest off the back of a 2-1 victory over Osasuna, which proved to be their first win in the league since the start of February.

Andoni Iraola's side have seen their European hopes fade in recent weeks, but they have still had an excellent campaign, collecting 40 points from 29 matches to sit eighth in the table.

Los Franjirrojos have never finished higher than eighth in Spain's top flight, so the club are chasing history this term, and they are only three points behind seventh-placed Athletic on the same number of games (29).

Rayo have been relatively impressive on their travels this season, picking up 17 points from 14 matches, although they have not managed to win away from home in the league since the end of January.

The capital outfit have two difficult games against Real Sociedad and Barcelona before ending the month away to basement side Elche, while May will begin with a home game against Real Valladolid.

Real Sociedad La Liga form:


Real Sociedad form (all competitions):


Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:


Team News

Real Sociedad's Robin Le Normand looks dejected after the match on January 25, 2023© Reuters

Real Sociedad will again be without the services of Sadiq Umar and Martin Merquelanz due to injuries, while Robin Le Normand is suspended following his booking against Athletic Bilbao.

Head coach Alguacil is expected to make a couple of changes from the side that took to the field for the first whistle of the Basque derby, with Alexander Sorloth likely to return in the final third.

Meanwhile, Le Normand's spot at the back should be taken by Aritz Elustondo, with Mikel Merino, David Silva, Martin Zubimendi and Brais Mendez continuing in midfield.

Rayo, meanwhile, will welcome Florian Lejeune back into their starting side, with the centre-back serving a suspension in the win over Osasuna last time out.

However, the visitors will now be without both Alejandro Catena and Alvaro Garcia, who both picked up bookings in the team's last match.

Lejeune should come straight back into the side as Catena's replacement, while Salvi is likely to benefit from Alvaro Garcia's absence to feature alongside Isi Palazon and Sergio Camello in the final third of the field.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Gorosabel, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Munoz; Merino, D Silva, Zubimendi, Mendez; Sorloth, Oyarzabal

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Balliu, Mumin, Lejeune, F Garcia; Comesana, Valentin; Palazon, Trejo, Salvi; Camello


SM words green background

We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 Rayo Vallecano

Real Sociedad are in desperate need of the points in their battle to secure a top-four finish, and we are backing the Basque outfit to return to winning ways here. Rayo are more than capable of picking up a positive result on Saturday but might ultimately fall just short against Alguacil's side.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Written by
Matt Law

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Game History

How you voted: Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano

Real Sociedad
87.0%
Draw
13.0%
Rayo Vallecano
0.0%
46
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Real Sociedad's Robin Le Normand looks dejected after the match on January 25, 2023
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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