Match preview

Only Real Madrid (36), Barcelona (27), Atletico Madrid (11) and Athletic Bilbao (eight) have won La Liga on more occasions than Valencia throughout history, with Los Che lifting the trophy six times, including as recent as 2004.

However, this season, the team are facing being relegated from the top flight for the first time since 1986, with a disappointing campaign to date leaving them bottom of the La Liga table, boasting just 13 points from 19 matches.

Los Che only have two league wins to their name this term, drawing seven and losing 10 of their other 17 matches, although it is not yet time to hit the panic button, with only four points separating them from 17th-placed Alaves, and there is a lot of football to be played.

Carlos Corberan is now in charge, and there have been positive signs under the new head coach, who has won two, drawn one and lost one of his four matches, with the two successes coming in the Copa del Rey.

Indeed, Valencia booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Spanish Cup with a 2-0 success over Ourense CF last time out, while they picked up a welcome point away to Sevilla in the league last weekend, but the six-time Spanish champions have not been victorious in Spain's top flight since November 23.

Real Sociedad are also present in the final eight of the Copa del Rey courtesy of their 3-1 success over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday night, while they beat Villarreal 1-0 in La Liga last weekend.

Imanol Alguacil's side have started 2025 with three straight wins in all competitions, and they will continue their league season against Valencia on Sunday before switching their attention to the Europa League, facing a trip to Lazio next week.

The Basque outfit are 12th in the Europa League table, boasting 10 points from six matches, so they are in a strong position when it comes to potentially progressing to the knockout round of the competition.

Real Sociedad have struggled for consistency in La Liga this season, but a total of 28 points from 19 matches has left them up in seventh spot, only two points behind sixth-placed Mallorca, but they are eight points off fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

La Real have won each of their last three league games against Valencia, while they have only been beaten in one of the last eight top-flight encounters between the two sides, which was a 1-0 reverse at Mestalla in February 2023.

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gaya; Guerra, Barrenechea; Rioja, Almeida, D Lopez; Duro

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Kubo, Mendez, Zubimendi, Sucic, Gomez; Oyarzabal