Two of La Liga’s surprise-packages meet at the Anoeta on Tuesday night, as Real Sociedad host Eibar in a game that could be the key to the fight for European places in the Spanish top-flight.
The home side are enjoying a stellar campaign and are currently fifth place in La Liga right in the thick of the race for the European spots. In fact, the team from San Sebastian are just a point behind Atletico Madrid who occupy the Champions League qualification.
A win will move Eusebio’s team above the men from the capital. La Real head into this clash on the back of three wins from their last four outings in the Spanish top-flight, last time out winning 1-0 at Las Palmas.
Despite a decent run of form of late in La Liga, the home side have lost two of their last four games at the Anoeta, although those defeats have come against top-six rivals Sevilla and Villarreal. They will head into this clash as favourites, but Eibar are unlikely to be easy opponents.
Eibar are regarded as minnows in La Liga, but they are currently sitting in seventh place in the table under Jose Luis Mendilibar. An away win would see the visitors move to within three points of Real Sociedad in the table.
The visitors have hit a good run of form of late, winning four of their last five La Liga games, while also scoring three or more goals in four of those five outings. At the other end of the pitch, Mendilibar’s side have also kept clean sheets in three of their last four games in the Spanish.
Their away form in La Liga has not been great of late, though, as they have won just two of their last nine league games on their travels.
Forebet predicts that the home side will emerge from this game with three points and enhance their chances of a top-four finish this season.