SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Transfer deadline: 2 hrs 51 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
RS
Real Sociedad logo
La Liga | Gameweek 3
Aug 28, 2021 at 6.30pm UK
Estadio Anoeta
LL
Levante logo

Real Sociedad
1 - 0
Levante

FT(HT: 1-0)

Cantero (18')

Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Levante - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Levante - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Real Sociedad and Levante, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Having both had mixed starts to the new campaign, Real Sociedad and Levante will do battle on Saturday in the third round of La Liga fixtures.

The hosts earned their first win of the season last time out after an opening defeat, while their visitors have drawn both games, and a victory for either would signify an impressive points tally from the opening three matches.


Match preview

Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Levante - prediction, team news, lineups

A strong second half of last season saw Real Sociedad achieve a commendable fifth-placed finish in La Liga, while also defeating Athletic Bilbao to win the delayed 2019-20 Copa del Rey final, meaning they head into the new season with plenty of optimism having secured a piece of silverware and European football for the new term.

They were handed a tough start though, travelling to take on Barcelona, and Imanol Alguacil's men were unable to cause an upset.

An early Gerard Pique goal and a Martin Braithwaite brace appeared to put the game out of sight, but late finishes from Julen Lobete and Mikel Oyarzabal gave the visitors a chance before their hopes were dashed as Sergi Roberto got on the scoresheet in injury time to condemn Los Txuri-Urdin to a 4-2 defeat.

Alguacil's men quickly bounced back though, as Oyarzabal converted a 68th-minute penalty to fire them to a 1-0 home win over Rayo Vallecano last time out.

Having impressed against Barcelona before opening their account for the season, Alguacil's men will come into Saturday's game with a degree of confidence, although they face another tough test as Levante arrive in search of their first win of the campaign.

Levante also impressed for large portions of last season, maintaining a spot in the top half for the majority before a poor end to the campaign eventually saw them fall to a somewhat underwhelming 14th-placed finish.

Hoping for a stronger showing this time around, Paco Lopez's men started with a trip to Cadiz, and they looked set to leave with a 1-0 win thanks to Jose Luis Morales's goal, only for Alfonso Espino to find the net in the 97th minute, seeing the hosts snatch a point as a result.

They then faced the tough task of a clash with title-chasing Real Madrid, and while Gareth Bale gave Los Blancos an early lead, Roger Marti and Jose Campana found the net to put Levante ahead on the hour mark, before Vinicius Junior levelled the game at 2-2.

Lopez's men again took the lead through Rober Pier with 10 minutes to go, but Vinicius netted his second of the game in the 85th minute to see the sides share the points after a dramatic affair.

While they will have been disappointed not to have held on for an impressive victory, Levante will still take positives from a draw with last season's second-placed side, and they will now go in search of a first league win of the season.

Real Sociedad La Liga form:
  • L
  • W

Levante La Liga form:
  • D
  • D

Team News

Real Sociedad come in with several injury concerns, as defenders Nacho Monreal and Diego Rico and goalkeeper Mat Ryan are all out of action.

Midfielders Asier Illarramendi and Carlos Fernandez will also miss out, meaning Martin Zubimendi should again be the anchor behind the dangerous pairing of David Silva and Mikel Merino.

The line will be led by Alexander Isak, who caught eyes for Sweden at Euro 2020 after hitting 17 La Liga goals for Los Txuri-Urdin last season, and he will be supported by the threat of Mikel Oyarzabal, who has already netted two league goals this campaign.

Levante also have plenty of issues to deal with, as Sergio Postigo, Alex Blesa, Dani Gomez and Roberto Soldado are all out through injury.

Lopez's problems have been made worse by the suspension of first-choice goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez, who was shown a red card in the dying minutes of the draw with Real Madrid as he raced out of his box to make a tackle.

In his absence, Dani Cardenas will start between the sticks, while Ruben Vezo can return to the back four after briefly deputising in goal when Levante were unable to make any further substitutions following Fernandez's sending off.

Jose Luis Morales and Roger Marti form a threatening attacking line, while Jose Campana and Jorge de Frutos will operate on the flanks.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Gorosabel, Elustondo, Normand, Munoz; Zubimendi; Oyarzabal, Merino, Silva, Barrentxea; Isak

Levante possible starting lineup:
Cardenas; Miramon, Vezo, Pier, Clerc; De Frutos, Melero, Radoja, Campana; Morales, Marti


We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 Levante

While this could certainly go either way, we think La Real boast the slightly stronger of the two squads, and will look to come out of what is bound to be an end-to-end affair with three points.

Although they looked concerning at the back against Barcelona, Alguacil's men quickly improved last time out, and we give them the slight edge on Saturday as both sides look for an important win to cap off the opening stretch of the season in style.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__460983 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:57:42:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:57:42 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Barcelona start life without Lionel Messi with a victory over Real Sociedad
Marco and Marcus: PSG winger follows Rashford to Aston Villa on loan
The fab fourth? Man City 'agree payment structure' for £49.8m midfielder
Sunday's La Liga predictions including Barcelona vs. Alaves
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid22154350212949
2Atletico MadridAtletico22146237142348
3Barcelona22143560243645
4Athletic Bilbao22118333201341
5Villarreal22107544331137
6Rayo Vallecano228862624232
7Osasuna227962731-430
8Mallorca2293101928-930
9Real BetisBetis227872528-329
10GironaGirona218492929028
11Real Sociedad2284101819-128
12Sevilla227782430-628
13Celta Vigo2274113135-425
14Getafe225981717024
15Las PalmasLas Palmas2165102634-823
16Leganes225891930-1123
17Espanyol2265112133-1223
18AlavesAlaves2256112534-921
19Valencia2247112237-1519
20Real ValladolidValladolid2243151547-3215
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

One in, two out? Chelsea confirm key recall decision as 22-year-old returns

1

OI
One in, two out? Chelsea confirm key recall decision as 22-year-old returns

Any transfer hints? Chelsea, West Ham name teams for Premier League game

NEW

2

AT
Any transfer hints? Chelsea, West Ham name teams for Premier League game

Preview: Strasbourg vs. Angers - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PS
Preview: Strasbourg vs. Angers - prediction, team news, lineups

Who will replace Rudiger? Predicted Real Madrid XI vs. Leganes

NEW

4

WW
Who will replace Rudiger? Predicted Real Madrid XI vs. Leganes

Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

5

MI
Maldini in League Two: Arsenal confirm first deadline day transfer!

Chelsea closing in on £15m deal for Saint-Etienne midfielder?

6

CC
Chelsea closing in on £15m deal for Saint-Etienne midfielder?

Amorim's playmaker: Man United to target former player in summer?

7

AP
Amorim's playmaker: Man United to target former player in summer?

Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PL
Preview: Leganes vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Transfer news and rumours: Asensio to Aston Villa, Palmer to Ipswich

9

TN

Chelsea 'hold talks' for Sporting youngster ahead of deadline day deal

10

C'
1x1


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .