ESPANYOL VS REAL SOCIEDAD PREVIEW & PREDICTION
In Cornella, the meeting between the underperformers Espanyol and Real Sociedad is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Both teams do not yet realize their ambitions this season and therefore need a victory to keep the supporters calm.
Espanyol:
Espanyol does not succeed in making the jump to the left row. Meanwhile, the Catalans have been unbeaten in six more rounds, but because five of those matches ended in a draw, that series did not really make a difference. Also within the group of players the feeling is that the team has to be able to finish a lot higher than the current fifteenth place. Midfielder Jose Jurado: ‘With this selection we have to be able to play much better than we have shown so far.’
The main cause of the sporting malaise is the lack of scoring power. In terms of goals Espanyol is almost completely dependent on club top scorer Gerard Moreno (eleven goals), the only offensive player at Los Pericos who does a good season. Vice-club top scorer Leo Baptistao does not even reach half of that number with only five hits. In defense, coach Quique Sanchez Flores has his affairs well in order. Last Wednesday, his team held the zero in the final of the Copa Catalunya against FC Barcelona, although the blues in the penalties series were still the shortest.
Restraining the FC Barcelona attack would normally have been a world-class achievement, but remember that both teams played with their reserves. Clappers like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were therefore not present, while on the side of Espanyol with goalkeeper Pau Lopez also only a basic player was at the kickoff. The locking station initially lost its place after he did not want to extend his expiring contract, but because of Diego Lopez’s injury he still returns under the bar. Among others, PSV would have an eye on the closing point, but this week he announced that he will defend the colors of Real Betis from next season.
Real Sociedad:
A lot of trainers have already been killed in La Liga this season, but I am surprised that Eusebio is still on the bench at Real Sociedad. Last season, he led the club from San Sebastian to a very deserving sixth place, but this football year is the doom and gloom. In the Copa del Rey, the Basques were eliminated by third-divisioner Lleida, in the Europa League Red Bull Salzburg proved too strong and in La Liga they are now no further than a meager twelfth place. The fans of La Real are not exactly spoiled this season.
There is hardly any enjoyment in the Anoeta this season, although Real Sociedad does guarantee a spectacle. With 49 goals, the blue-whites score on the conveyor belt, although they get the goals on the other side with 48 goals again just as easy on the ears. However, renting Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya has been a golden move. On his debut on a visit to Real Betis (0-0), he immediately kept his goal clean and a week later he had to give a victory in the win against Alaves (2-1). Moya provides more stability in the defense, something the Basques were so eagerly looking for. There is also good news in the forefront. Club top scorer Willian Jose (eleven goals) is now fit again, although it seems that Eusebio will let him start Sunday afternoon from the bench. Sergio Canales will have to take his team in tow. With two goals and four assists in his last six appearances, Canales has been in shape the last few weeks. He is the one with both the most goal attempts and the most assists in the blues.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1.76
