SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 14 hrs 10 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
VL
La Liga | Gameweek 37
May 15, 2022 at 6.30pm UK
Estadio El Madrigal
RS

Villarreal
1 - 2
Real Sociedad

Coquelin (43')
Foyth (68'), Albiol (77'), Lo Celso (90+6'), Jackson (90+11')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Isak (56'), Zubimendi (73')
Zaldua (2'), Isak (82')

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

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

The battle for sixth place in the La Liga table will heat up on Sunday, as Villarreal welcome Real Sociedad to the Estadio de la Ceramica.

With two games left to play, the visitors currently hold sixth spot with a three-point lead over their opponents, meaning a win would guarantee them a place in European competition next season.


Match preview

After rising up through the pack and putting themselves in the conversation for a top-six finish, Villarreal seemingly paid the price for a gruelling Champions League run, as the two legs of their unsuccessful semi-final tie with Liverpool came either side of a disappointing 2-1 defeat to strugglers Alaves in La Liga.

Following their exit from the continental competition, the Yellow Submarine took on Sevilla, and they looked set to see out a 1-0 win thanks to Giovani Lo Celso's late goal, only for the visitors to force a share of the spoils deep into injury time through Jules Kounde.

That saw Unai Emery's men lose ground in the race for continental qualification, but they were then able to make a crucial return to winning ways last time out.

In that game, they thrashed Rayo Vallecano 5-1 on home turf as Alfonso Pedraza hit a brace alongside goals from Juan Foyth, Paco Alcacer and Pau Torres.

That victory saw them remain three points behind Sunday's opponents, and, with a far superior goal difference, Villarreal would climb into the top six with a win at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will make the trip looking to stretch that gap and confirm their top-six finish.

After being in the race for Champions League football for large parts of the season, Imanol Alguacil's side experienced a dip in form at a crucial point, going four games without a victory from mid-April to the beginning of May.

Having only picked up two points in that span, La Real looked at risk of dropping out of the top six altogether, but they were able to bounce back to winning ways last time out.

Alguacil's men hosted strugglers Cadiz, and they came out with a dominant 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Alexander Sorloth, Adnan Januzaj and Portu.

With that result keeping Villarreal at bay for the meantime, Real Sociedad will know they still need a result on Sunday to keep themselves in the European places.

Villarreal La Liga form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W

Villarreal form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W

Real Sociedad La Liga form:
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W


Team News

Villarreal were without key attacking duo Gerard Moreno and Arnaut Danjuma for the Sevilla match, and they could both miss out on Saturday, with Paco Alcacer again set to start up front in their absence.

Following their dominant display, Unai Emery has little reason to make too many changes to his starting XI, with Samu Chukwueze and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Giovani Lo Celso again set to support the lone striker.

Further back, Etienne Capoue and Dani Parejo should again play key roles in midfield, while Manu Trigueros was given the final spot in the engine room last time out.

Real Sociedad have injury issues of their own to deal with, as Ander Barrenetxea, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nacho Monreal and Carlos Fernandez remain sidelined.

They will, however, welcome defender Robin Le Normand and attacker Alexander Isak back to contention after the duo served suspensions last time out.

The latter will have to battle hard for his place, after Alexander Sorloth, Adnan Januzaj and Portu all added to their goal tallies in the win over Cadiz.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza; Trigueros, Capoue, Parejo; Lo Celso, Alcacer, Chukwueze

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Gorosabel, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Rico; Zubimendi, Merino, Silva; Sorloth, Isak, Januzaj


We say: Villarreal 1-1 Real Sociedad

With so much on the line on Sunday, we predict a tight encounter and see a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome.

While the hosts desperately need a win in their pursuit of European qualification, the losses of Danjuma and Moreno could hit them hard against a stronger defence, and we do not see them putting La Real to the sword with a makeshift front line.




For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggesed result please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 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.Under 2.5: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__485772 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:58:22:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:58:22 :

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
Liverpool survive Villarreal scare to reach Champions League final
Title blow! Man City lose five in a row as four-goal Spurs dismantle the champions
"He's been unfairly judged" - Have the critics been too harsh on Arsenal's Merino?
Preview: Osasuna vs. Villarreal - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
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

Flick stunned! Ten-man Barca pegged back by Celta late on in Vigo

1

FS

'Not good enough': Man United chiefs have 'serious doubts' over summer arrival

2

'G

Preview: Port Vale vs. Crewe - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PP

European escape: National champions 'escalate' pursuit of Chelsea contract rebel

4

EE

Yoro is back! When could Man United centre-back make his debut?

5

YI

'We have bricks, we need cement': Arteta explains plan for Arsenal's Nwaneri

6

'H

Barca star 'commits long-term future' to La Liga leaders

7

BS

Team News: Ipswich vs. Man Utd injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

8

TN

Team News: Leganes vs. Real Madrid injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

9

TN

Title blow! Man City lose five in a row as four-goal Spurs dismantle the champions

10

TB


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