Real Sociedad vs Deportivo Alaves

Real Sociedad’s pursuit of another European finish continues at Reale Arena as they take on perennial La Liga strugglers Deportivo Alaves.

Real Sociedad’s new league season was off on a sorrowful note, with Rayo Vallecano triumphing 2-1 on this ground, pouring more misery on La Real after Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win in San Sebastian on last season’s final day. At the risk of losing three consecutive home matches in La Liga for the first time since February 2007, the Basque giants head into this round off the back of a late 1-0 win at newly-promoted Espanyol over the weekend. Another triumph is well on the cards, considering Real Sociedad’s formidable record across their last 11 home encounters against Deportivo Alaves (W8 D2, L1). However, the hosts cannot take anything for granted after failing to take three points in 11 of their previous 19 home matches as pre-match favorites (W8, D6, L5).

As for Deportivo Alaves, last season’s respectable 10th-place finish has failed to inspire a mighty league start, with Luis Garcia Plaza’s team following a 2-1 way loss to Celta Vigo with a scoreless home draw against Real Betis at the weekend. Trips to the Basque Country often spell trouble for El Glorioso as they’ve failed to pick up a win on this soil across their last 11 visits in La Liga (D4, L7). While Garcia Plaza knows in-depth about facing Atletico Madrid, his managerial record against Los Colchoneros is troubled (W4, D6, L6), casting further doubt on Alaves’ bid to get in the win column for this first time this season. Adding to this sentiment, his men have only won once on their last eight La Liga travels (D2, L5).