On Saturday evening, Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano clash at the Reale Arena in a potentially vital game for the home team’s hopes of sealing a Champions League spot this season.
La Real currently occupy fourth place in La Liga, which would be enough for a Champions League place for next season. However, Imanol’s team have fifth-place Real Betis now just three points behind them, breathing down their necks in the race for a top-four spot.
🏟 Cant wait to be back at the Reale Arena#AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/LYnE3CnUAt— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) April 19, 2023
🏟 Cant wait to be back at the Reale Arena#AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/LYnE3CnUAt
A recent inconsistent run in La Liga has not helped their top-four chances, as the side from San Sebastian goes into this game having won just two of their previous eight matches in the Spanish top flight.
Real Sociedad’s recent home form has remained somewhat consistent, as they are unbeaten in their last four home league matches, having recorded back-to-back La Liga victories on home soil.
They have also kept three straight clean sheets in the league at the Reale Arena.
The visitor's challenge for a European spot seems to be fading after a poor recent run of form in the Spanish top flight. Rayo are now seven points adrift of the league's top six.
However, a 2-1 home win over Osasuna last time out ended an eight-game winless run in the Spanish top flight for the visitors.
The game continued a recent high-scoring trend for Rayo in La Liga, as four of their last five league matches have now produced over 2.5 goals.
Rayo’s poor recent away form has not helped their chances of sealing a European place either, as the visitors are winless in four away matches in the Spanish top-flight on their travels.
Forebet predicts that these two teams will produce a low-scoring draw, which would do little to boost either team's chances of achieving their objectives this season in La Liga.