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

Real Sociedad will be aiming to make the perfect start to their 2025-26 La Liga campaign when they welcome Valencia to Reale Arena on Saturday night.

The hosts were disappointing in Spain's top flight last season, finishing down in 11th spot in the table, while Valencia were 12th, level on points with their opponents on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

Match preview

Valencia are six-time La Liga champions, but they have not managed to make the top four since 2019, with the Spanish giants struggling in recent seasons, and 2024-25 was another underwhelming campaign.

Los Che boasted a record of 11 wins, 13 draws and 14 defeats from their 38 matches last season, with 46 points leaving them in 12th spot in the table, three positions lower than in 2023-24.

Valencia have made six signings during this summer's transfer window, with the biggest of those in terms of a transfer fee proving to be Filip Ugrinic, while Arnaut Danjuma and Dani Raba have also arrived at Mestalla.

Carlos Coberan's side will enter this match off the back of comfortably their best performance and result in pre-season, with their final friendly of the summer seeing them beat Torino 3-0 last weekend.

Valencia recorded a 1-0 victory in the corresponding game between the two sides last season, but Real Sociedad have been victorious in three of their last four fixtures in Spain's top flight.

Real Sociedad, meanwhile, finished 11th in Spain's top flight last season, which proved to be their lowest final spot in La Liga since 2018, when they ended the campaign in 12th.

The Basque outfit had been fourth in 2022-23 and then sixth in 2023-24, but it was a real struggle for the club last term, and there has been a change in the dug-out, with Sergio Francisco replacing the long-serving Imanol Alguacil.

Francisco was in charge of Real Sociedad B before his promotion, and this is a huge test for the 46-year-old, who also represented the White and Blues as a player during his professional career.

Real Sociedad played a lot of football over the summer, taking to the field for seven friendlies, suffering just one defeat in the process, and they were last in action on August 9, drawing with Premier League side Bournemouth.

La Real have only made two signings this summer, with Goncalo Guedes arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Duje Caleta-Car from Lyon on loan, while their major outgoing has been Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal.

Valencia pre-season form:

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Real Sociedad pre-season form:

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Team News

Valencia are set to be without the services of Alberto Mari, Stole Dimitrievski and Sergi Canos for their opening match of the new campaign through injury, whiel Thierry Correia is also a fitness doubt.

Julen Agirrezabala is in line to make his debut between the sticks, while there should also be a debut in the middle of the defence for 25-year-old Jose Copete.

Javi Guerra's future has been the subject of speculation this summer, with Manchester United said to be keen on the midfielder, but he has recently signed a new long-term contract at Mestalla.

As for Real Sociedad, Jon Gorrotxategi is a doubt due to a minor injury, but the away side are otherwise in excellent shape for their La Liga clash against Valencia.

There is expected to be a familiar look to the XI, with Takefusa Kubo in line to start despite the fact that the attacker is being heavily linked with an exit.

Mikel Oyarzabal is likely to operate through the middle for the Basque side on Saturday, with Guedes's debut expected to come off the bench at Mestalla.

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Agirrezabala; Vazquez, Diakhaby, Copete, Gaya; Guillamon, Pepelu; Rioja, Almeida, Guerra; Duro

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Odriozola, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Lopez; Benat, Sucic; Kubo, Mendez, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal

We say: Valencia 1-1 Real Sociedad

These two sides performed at a similar level last season, and we do not see too much between them in terms of their starting sides; it would not be a shock to see a home or indeed an away victory, but we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw here.

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