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

Both Valencia and Real Sociedad will be looking to return to winning ways in La Liga when they continue their respective campaigns with a clash at Mestalla on Sunday afternoon.

Valencia, who lost at Cadiz last weekend, are currently 12th in Spain's top flight, while Real Sociedad occupy fifth position in the table but are level on points with seventh-placed Villarreal.

Match preview

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Entering their game with Cadiz on April 4, Valencia had not managed to put together back-to-back wins in Spain's top flight since the latter stages of 2019 and that unwanted statistic remains in place following the 2-1 defeat to the promoted club.

Kevin Gameiro cancelled out an effort from Juan Cala to leave the scores level entering the final stages of the contest, but Marcos Mauro came off the bench to score the winner for the home side.

Valencia have not managed to string together a consistent run of results this season and are currently down in 12th position in the table, some 25 points behind fourth-placed Sevilla.

Los Che are 13 points off fifth-placed Real Sociedad, meanwhile, and it appears that eighth is the best that the club could hope for in the final weeks of the 2020-21 campaign.

Javi Gracia's side have only won six of their 14 La Liga matches at Mestalla this term but have suffered just three defeats and are still more than capable of beating any side in the league despite their obvious issues.

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Real Sociedad, as mentioned, have kept hold of fifth position despite a run of just one win from their last five league matches, while they have picked up just one point from their last three games during a difficult spell.

Imanol Alguacil's side beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the rearranged 2020 Copa del Rey final on April 3 courtesy of a second-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal.

Real Sociedad then faced the same opponents in the league on Wednesday evening but needed an 89th-minute leveller from Roberto Lopez to secure a share of the spoils against their rivals.

The White and Blues are fifth in the division but are now level on points with both sixth-placed Real Betis and seventh-placed Villarreal, and it is set to be a three-way battle for the spot just behind the top four.

Team News

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Valencia will again be without the services of Jasper Cillessen this weekend due to a knee problem, while Eliaquim Mangala is battling to overcome a hamstring strain.

Maxi Gomez is also a doubt with a knee issue, meaning that Gameiro is expected to retain his spot in the final third of the field alongside Goncalo Guedes.

Head coach Gracia is expected to stick with the majority of the side that started the defeat to Cadiz, but Denis Cheryshev is in line for a spot on the left, potentially taking the place of Alex Blanco.

As for Real Sociedad, Igor Zubeldia and Martin Zubimendi are both sidelined through suspension, while Luca Sangalli, David Silva, Asier Illarramendi and Aihen Munoz are all injured.

Miguel Moya, Mikel Merino, Joseba Zaldua and Jon Guridi are also doubts, with the visitors set to be without a number of key players for this weekend's contest.

Lopez came off the bench to score late against Athletic last time out and is now in contention to start, while Nacho Monreal, Andoni Gorosabel, Adnan Januzaj and Portu could all come into the side, with Oyarzabal potentially moving into a deeper position.

Alexander Isak has enjoyed an impressive campaign for the Basque club, scoring 12 times in 25 league appearances, and the Sweden international will again lead the line.

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Domenech; Correia, Paulista, Diakhaby, Gaya; Wass, Soler, Racic, Cheryshev; Gameiro, Guedes

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Gorosabel, Elustondo, Le Normand, Monreal; Oyarzabal, Guevara, Lopez; Portu, Isak, Januzaj

We say: Valencia 1-1 Real Sociedad

For all of Valencia's problems this season, they are still a side full of talent, and it would not be a surprise to see them triumph on Sunday. Injury-hit Real Sociedad are in need of the points as they battle to keep hold of fifth, though, and we can see the two teams playing out a low-scoring draw at Mestalla.