La Liga | Gameweek 17

Dec 15, 2024 at 5.30pm UK

Reale Arena

Real Sociedadvs.Las Palmas

Match preview

Having finished in the top six in each of the last five La Liga seasons, Real Sociedad are on a mission to return to the top flight in 2024-25, and Sunday's hosts are also battling on the European front in their quest for a first continental honour.

Erreala moved a step closer to the knockout stages of the Europa League on Thursday night when a first-half brace from Euro 2024 winner Mikel Oyarzabal and a goal from Sheraldo Becker secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Dynamo Kiev, who remain without a point in the 36-team competition after six games.

Real Sociedad, 12th in the Europa League standings, are sixth in La Liga ahead of this weekend's trip to the Reale Arena to face Las Palmas, eight points behind Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League but just two behind Villarreal in fifth.

Since a shock 2-1 defeat to Viktoria Pilsen on 7 November, Erreala have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions, conceding just once, and it is no surprise that La Real are tied with Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid for the best defensive record in La Liga, having conceded just 11 goals in 16 top-flight matches.

Imanol Alguacil's side will be looking to improve their efficiency in front of goal after conceding just 16 goals from as many games in the opening months of La Liga, with Spain international Oyarzabal and former Real Madrid youngster Takefusa Kubo the only players to score more than twice in the league.

Since the arrival of Diego Martinez as head coach at the end of October, Las Palmas have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in form on all fronts, winning seven and losing just two of their nine competitive matches.

Los Amarillos are in the midst of their longest winning streak of the 2024-25 season after recording three successive victories over leaders Barcelona, Copa del Rey opponents CE Europa and relegation-threatened Real Valladolid, all by 2-1 scorelines.

With three wins from their last quartet of high-profile fixtures, Las Palmas currently sit 14th in the La Liga table, five points clear of Espanyol at the top of the relegation zone.

After finding the net just once on his return to the top flight last season, striker Sandro Ramirez has hit the ground running in the opening months of the 2024-25 campaign, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 13 La Liga appearances.

As well as the stars of the Spanish game, Las Palmas have some familiar names to those familiar with the English and Scottish leagues, with Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Fabio Silva and former Sheffield United man Oli McBurnie both enjoying their spells in the Canary Islands.

Recent Performance

Real Sociedad La Liga form:LWWLWW

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):LWWWWW

Las Palmas La Liga form:WLWLWW

Las Palmas form (all competitions):LWLWWW

Team News

Winger Brais Mendez, who scored in last weekend's 3-0 La Liga win at Leganes, will be unavailable for Real Sociedad's home clash after receiving a yellow card.

La Real suffered a major blow to their squad at the start of September when right-back Hamari Traore was ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Their centre-back options are further limited by the absence of Aritz Elustondo, who is hoping to return from an ankle injury at the end of December.

In a potential blow to the January transfer plans of Manchester City and Liverpool, Martin Zubimendi is set to be sidelined for several weeks with a "serious" back injury.

Las Palmas will be without two key players for this weekend's trip to the Reale Arena, with Alex Suarez and Silva both suspended for accumulating yellow cards.

Former Manchester United striker Adnan Januzaj, who has been limited to just five La Liga starts this season, suffered another injury blow earlier this month when he picked up an ankle problem in the Copa del Rey win over CE Europa.

Possible starting lineup

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Kubo, Olasagasti, Sucic, Gomez; Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Viti, Herzog, McKenna, Marmol; Rodriguez, Essugo, Ramirez, Munoz, Moleiro; McBurnie