Real Sociedad’s aim when they entered the Primera Division from the Segunda last summer was simply to re-establish themselves as a top flight club. As the halfway point in the campaign approaches, Martin Lasarte’s side can be pleased they’ve started along the right lines to do just that. With a weekend fixture against Valencia approaching, the Basques can even consider cementing themselves in the top half of the standings.
Though la Real have struggled a little when forced to play on their travels, they’ve been excellent at home. Of their seven fixtures at Anoeta, they’ve won an impressive five, amassing 15 of their 22 points at the venue.
Given their poor record on the road, and given the relative naivety of the side to top flight football after a rare hiatus in the second tier, it was little surprise to see the Txuri-urdin go down 5-0 against all-conquering Barcelona.
“At the moment, we are learning a lot,” Lasarte told the media after that reverse. “Real Sociedad still lack some competitiveness, but that will come.”
Such has been the comparative excellence of la Real’s start to the campaign, they have given themselves plenty of opportunity to learn lessons against the best. Boasting a massive nine point cushion to the relegation zone, there appears to be little danger of the San Sebastian side slipping back into the dogfight.
Not About To Fall Apart
It’s been a very frustrating season for Valencia so far. Los Che appeared ready to at least appear somewhere in the region of Barcelona and Real Madrid when they earned five wins from their opening six matches, but a loss at home to Barca has trigged an extremely fallow period by their lofty standards.
Over the course of their last nine domestic matches, Unai Emery has watched his side win only twice, allowing pressure to build on his shoulders by the demanding Mestalla crowd. Last weekend los Che were involved in an entertaining encounter against Osasuna, but the result was not the one desired as a 3-3 draw only served to stunt their dreams of the Champions League.
Twice Valencia enjoyed a two goal lead in that encounter only to be pegged back by their dogged rivals, leading to media suggestions that Emery has lost the dressing room. Aritz Aduriz denied such rumours, while David Albelda has indicated that the current slump is simply a natural blip.
“It is not a very good result, but the situation is reversible, and the team will not fall apart due to this,” he told the press. “All teams go through good and bad times.”
With the pressure building, this is a fixture Valencia could really do with impressing in, even if they cannot win it.
TEAM NEWS
Real Sociedad
Claudio Bravo is looking very likely to play the weekend’s fixture against los Che after previously being a doubt due to an ankle complaint. Martin Lasarte has no other issues.
Valencia
Ever Banega is out with an ankle problem. The Argentine sustained the problem during Thursday’s training session. Alejandro Dominguez, Mehmet Topal, Tino Costa, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Moya have all been battling injury issues this week.
Manuel Fernandes continues to train with Valencia until January 3, despite his immediate future being with Besiktas.
Prediction
After making a lightning quick start to the season, Valencia’s form has faded into the mediocre. Still capable of pulling off a big result, los Che look almost equally capable of losing to anyone. Even though Real Sociedad are going well at home, this could be their first split decision of the season.
Real Sociedad 1-1 Valencia 
