La Liga | Gameweek 27

Mar 9, 2025 at 8pm UK

Reale Arena

Real Sociedad vs Sevilla

Match preview

Real Sociedad will have mixed feelings about Thursday's Europa League clash with Man United, having held them to a draw in the first leg of their last-16 tie but missing out on the chance to make full use of home advantage.

Joshua Zirkzee put Man United ahead in the 57th minute before Mikel Oyarzabal equalised from the spot after Bruno Fernandes was booked for handball, and although Brais Mendez and Orri Oskarsson had chances to win the game, the Basque side had to settle for a 1-1 draw ahead of Thursday's return leg at Old Trafford.

Ahead of the trip to the north-west of England, La Real's focus will be on securing a place in next season's European competition, with the ninth-placed side four points adrift of the top six in La Liga.

While more European places could be up for grabs, Real Sociedad will be looking to secure the best possible position, having finished in the top six in each of the last five seasons.

Imanol Alguacil's side will be desperate to reverse a poor run of form that has seen them lose five of their last seven league games, including a 4-0 defeat away to Barcelona last Sunday, when they played most of the game with 10 men after Aritz Elustondo's 17th-minute red card.

They can at least take confidence from their recent record at the Reale Arena, having won three of their last four home league games (L1).

Sevilla may be in the bottom half of the table, but they will still be hoping to make a push for European qualification, with five points separating them from local rivals Real Betis in sixth.

Despite losing just one of their last eight games, Sevilla will be frustrated by the fact that five of those games have ended in draws, including their last two against Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano.

They conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to draw at home to Mallorca before repeating the scoreline at Vallecas last Saturday.

In truth, Sevilla would have been relieved to salvage a point from that contest after Dodi Lukebakio's 81st-minute equaliser cancelled out Andrei Ratiu's opener to extend his side's unbeaten away run in La Liga to four games (W2, D2), which means they have not lost an away game in La Liga since a 4-2 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in December.

They may have their work cut out if they are to extend their unbeaten away record, having lost four of their last five games against Real Sociedad, including 2-1 defeats on their last two visits to the Reale Arena.

Those two results extended Sevilla's winless streak in the head-to-head competition to three games and they have not beaten Real Sociedad on the road since a 2-1 victory in April 2021, courtesy of goals from Fernando and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Recent Performance

Real Sociedad La Liga form:LLWLWL

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):LWWLLD

Sevilla La Liga form:DDLWDD

Team News

The hosts will be without the services of Jon Pacheco, Alvaro Odriozola and Arsen Zakharyan, while midfielder Martin Zubimendi is a doubt after missing the Man United game through illness.

Elustondo will be absent from the Real Sociedad backline as he serves a one-match ban after being sent off against Barcelona last weekend.

Jon Aramburu will replace Elustondo in the backline, while Alguacil could make further changes to freshen up his side, with Javi Lopez, Jon Ander Olasagasti, Pablo Marin, Sergio Gomez, Sheraldo Becker and Oskarsson all in contention to start against Sevilla.

Defender Nayef Aguerd and striker Oyarzabal should be available despite suffering knocks in Thursday's draw.

Sevilla coach Garcia Pimienta, meanwhile, is still without the injured trio of Tanguy Nianzou, Nemanja Gudelj and Akor Adams.

Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga is likely to be included in the matchday squad after returning to training following a four-match injury absence.

Unlike their hosts, Sevilla have had a full week to prepare for Sunday's clash and with his side well rested, Piementa could opt for consistency by naming the same team for the third match in a row.

Lukebakio will continue to be Sevilla's main attacking threat, having scored 11 goals in 26 La Liga appearances this season.

Possible starting lineup

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Lopez; Olasagasti, Turrientes, Marin; Becker, Gomez, Oskarsson

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Nyland; Carmona, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Juanlu, Sow, Saul; Lukebakio, Vargas, Romero