La Liga | Gameweek 16

Dec 8, 2024 at 1pm UK

Estadio Municipal de Butarque

Leganesvs.Real Sociedad

Match preview

Leganés had a bit of a scare on Wednesday night in the second round of the Copa del Rey against Estepona, a fourth-tier team. The match finished 2-2, with Borja Jiménez's side twice having to come from behind at Estadio Municipal Francisco Muñoz Pérez.

The La Liga team won 5-4 on penalties to progress, and they've only lost one of their last four matches in all competitions. That was a 3-0 home defeat to Real Madrid in La Liga on 24 November.

Jiménez's side drew 1-1 with Alavés in the league last weekend. They're currently 15th in La Liga, with 15 points from 15 games: three wins, six draws and six defeats.

Leganés were promoted back to La Liga for the 2024-25 season as Segunda División champions, and they're aiming to make it back-to-back seasons at this level of football for the first time since 2020.

El Lega actually beat Real Sociedad 2-1 when the two teams last played each other in the league back in February 2020. They've only lost one of their last four top-flight matches against La Real.

This weekend, Real Sociedad will be aiming to win an away match against Leganés in La Liga for the first time since October 2016. They did record a 3-2 victory in the last clash between the two sides in the Copa del Rey at the start of 2022, though.

Imanol Alguacil's side had a tough time on Thursday night in the Copa del Rey. They needed an extra-time goal from Brais Mendez to make it through to the third round of the competition.

Real Sociedad are on a roll. They beat Ajax 2-0 in the Europa League at the end of November and then recorded a 2-0 victory over Real Betis in La Liga last weekend.

The White and Blues are currently ninth in the La Liga table with a record of six wins, three draws and six defeats from 15 matches. They are already eight points off the top four, albeit with a game in hand on fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

La Real only have the seventh-best away record in La Liga this season, with 11 points from seven matches, while Leganés have lost three of their seven home league games during the 2024-25 campaign.

Recent Performance

Leganes La Liga form:LWLWLD

Leganes form (all competitions):WLWLDW

Real Sociedad La Liga form:WLWWLW

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):WWLWWW

Team News

Leganés will be without Darko Brasanac and Enric Franquesa due to injury on Sunday, but Dani Raba should be fit to play despite concerns over a muscular problem.

Munir El Haddadi scored in the Copa del Rey last week, so he's likely to start here. However, there will be lots of changes from the side that played against Estepona.

It looks like Diego Garcia will be back as the central striker, and we'll also see Javi Hernandez, Oscar Rodriguez, Renato Tapia and Valentin Rosier back in the starting XI.

Injury has also ruled out Benat Turrientes, Aritz Elustondo, Hamari Traore and Arsen Zakharyan for Real Sociedad, while Orri Oskarsson will only know whether he is fit to play on the day due to a muscle problem.

Luka Sucic was involved in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night after missing the Real Betis game through injury, so he'll be available to start here.

Head coach Alguacil will make a lot of changes to the side that started in the cup. Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal are among those set to return to the side for the league clash with Leganés.

Possible starting lineup

Leganes possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Rosier, Gonzalez, Nastasic, J Hernandez; Tapia, Neyou; El Haddadi, Rodriguez, Cruz; D Garcia

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Munoz; Mendez, Zubimendi, Sucic; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea