Real Sociedad will be aiming to take a huge step towards securing qualification for next season's Champions League when they welcome Almeria in La Liga on Tuesday night.

The home side, who beat the champions Barcelona at Camp Nou on Saturday, are currently fourth in the table, five points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, while Almeria sit 13th, four points clear of the relegation zone in the battle to stay in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

Real Sociedad's impressive victory away to Barcelona on Saturday evening has left them in an excellent position in their battle to secure a spot in the group stage of the Champions League for next season.

Mikel Merino and Alexander Sorloth were on the scoresheet at Camp Nou, with Robert Lewandowski's late effort only proving to be a consolation for Xavi's side, who won the championship last weekend.

Real Sociedad have regained their form at the perfect stage of the season, now winning four of their last six league games, remaining unbeaten in the process, which has left them in fourth position, five points clear of fifth-place Villarreal with only three games left to play.

A win for the Basque outfit in this game would move them eight points clear of Villarreal, who can only pick up nine more points this season, and the Yellow Submarine are not in action until Wednesday evening against Cadiz.

The White and Blues have not claimed a top-four spot in La Liga since 2013, but Imanol Alguacil is on the brink of leading the team to a Champions League finish, and a victory here would leave the team in an excellent position ahead of their final two games against Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

Almeria, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 win over Mallorca on Saturday, which moved them up into 13th position in the table.

Lazaro scored a brilliant hat-trick for Rubi's side in the contest at Power Horse Stadium, but they are far from safe from the threat of relegation, only sitting four points ahead of 18th-placed Real Valladolid.

Almeria secured a return to Spain's top flight by winning the Segunda Division last season, and they are bidding to make it back-to-back campaigns at this level of football for the first time since 2015.

La Union have been impressive at home this season, picking up 32 points from 18 matches, but they have found it difficult on their travels, only collecting seven points, which is the joint-worst record in the division alongside basement team Elche.

UDA, who will face Real Valladolid and Espanyol in their last two games of the campaign, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Real Sociedad in the reverse match between the two sides earlier this season, but they actually won 2-1 when they last visited the Basque outfit in Spain's top flight back in September 2014.

Team News

Real Sociedad were missing David Silva, Brais Mendez, Umar Sadiq and Martin Merquelanz through injury on Saturday, and that will again be the case for this contest.

Head coach Alguacil has plenty of options for change, and it would not be a surprise to see Takefusa Kubo come in for a start in the final third of the field.

Mikel Oyarzabal is also expected to return to the starting XI, but Asier Illarramendi's impressive performance in central midfield should see him retain his position alongside Merino and Martin Zubimendi.

As for Almeria, Kaiky, Martin Svidersky, Chumi and El Bilal Toure remain on the sidelines through injury, but the visitors have not reported any fresh fitness concerns.

Lazaro's excellent treble against Mallorca will see him continue in the final third of the field alongside Luis Suarez and Adri Embarba.

Cesar de la Hoz could potentially come into a midfield position, but there are unlikely to be any changes at the back, with Alejandro Pozo and Alex Centelles set to continue in the full-back areas.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Rico; Illarramendi, Merino, Zubimendi; Oyarzabal, Sorloth, Kubo

Almeria possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Pozo, Ely, Babic, Centelles; Robertone, Costa, De la Hoz; Lazaro, Suarez, Embarba

We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 Almeria

Almeria's home form this season has been excellent, but they are a different team on the road, and Real Sociedad will fancy their chances of securing all three points here. We are expecting a close game in terms of the scoreline, but Alguacil's side should have enough quality to secure the victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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