Espanyol will travel to San Sebastian this Monday to take on Real Sociedad in the 30th Round of the 2021/22 La Liga Santander season.
Venue: Reale Arena (San Sebastian)
Key Statistics
Real Sociedad have kept four clean sheets from their last five La Liga (LL) outings,
The hosts have kept an impressive 11 clean sheets from 14 LL home outings this season.
This season alone they have recorded seven ‘wins to nil’ against bottom-half clubs going into the weekend.
Espanyol are yet to win a league match away from home this calendar year (D2, L2).
They have not kept a clean sheet away from home in 13 consecutive LL trips.
Sociedad’s Alexander Isak has scored in three of his four career appearances against Espanyol, including twice as a substitute.
Seven of Espanyol’s last eight LL fixtures have produced at least six total cards.
Head to head
Real Sociedad hold the advantage in this fixture over the last 15 head-to-head meetings winning eight times while Espanyol have five wins.
Latest performances in all competitions
Real Sociedad: D-W-L-W-W
Espanyol: W-D-W-L-D
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad will look to make extend their unbeaten league run to three games when they welcome Espanyol to San Sebastian this Monday night.
The hosts kept their dream of a first Champions League berth since 2013/14 alive with a scoreless draw at second-placed Sevilla prior to the international window.
The result saw them keep their fourth clean sheet from their last five La Liga (LL) outings, and leaves them sitting sixth on the table, six points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
With nine games still to play this season, they still have the chance to break into the top four, but must avoid dropping unnecessary points. Given their record against teams in the bottom ten, they are in good stead to avenge their 1-0 loss at Espanyol in November, which stands as their only La Liga defeat to any club in the bottom half of the standings (W11, D3, L1).
However, the absence of star forward Mikel Oyarzabal will be a big disadvantage in this game. The Spaniard was sorely missed last time out, as his side could only muster two shots on target against Sevilla.
But despite the absence of their star forward, they will be confident of getting a result from this tie given the strength of their defensive unit, which now boasts an impressive 11 clean sheets from 14 LL home outings.
Possible Real Sociedad starting line-up
Alex Remiro; Joseba Zaldúa, Aritz Elustondo, Robin Le Normand, Diego Rico; Portu, Martín Zubimendi, David Silva; Rafinha, Mikel Merino, Alexander Isak.
Injured: Carlos Fernández, Nacho Monreal, Aihen Munoz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Peter Pokorny
Doubtful: Ander Barrenetxea
Suspended: None
Espanyol
Espanyol will look to make it two wins in two league games when they travel to San Sebastian on Monday.
The visitors took a giant step in securing their La Liga future for another season last time out as they defeated Mallorca 1-0 at home, taking their season’s tally to 36 points, ten points above the relegation zone.
They come into this tie sitting in 12th place, four points behind ninth-placed Valencia. And so with relegation no longer an immediate threat, they will now look to crack the top ten before the end of the season.
A win in this game will secure them back-to-back La Liga wins for the first time since consecutive home fixtures in October 2021. However, given that they are yet to win a La Liga match away from home this calendar year (D2, L2), a win here appears difficult.
Possible Espanyol starting line-up
Diego Lopez; Oscar Gil, Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Adria Pedrosa; Sergi Darder, Keidi Bare, Yangel Herrera; Javi Puado, Adrian Embarba, Tonny Vilhena.
Injured: Raul de Tomas
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Real Sociedad 1-0 Espanyol
