Preview: Eibar vs. Real Valladolid - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides with nothing but pride to play for in the Spanish top flight will lock horns on Thursday evening as Eibar play host to Real Valladolid in the penultimate gameweek of the season.

Both clubs have amassed 39 points from 36 games this term, with Valladolid currently one spot higher in the table owing to a slightly better goal difference.

Match preview

© Reuters

Eibar managed to end a three-game winless run in La Liga last time out as they enjoyed a 2-0 victory over an already-relegated Espanyol side.

The result guarantees that Eibar will not be dragged into a relegation dogfight with just two games left to play, as Jose Luis Mendilibar 's men now lie 15th in the table following a decent run of results since the restart.

Indeed, Eibar have managed to accumulate 12 points from 21 on offer following the resumption of the Spanish top flight, and Mendilibar's men have recorded shutouts in their last two outings against Leganes and Espanyol.

Having confirmed their status as a La Liga club for at least another year, Mendilibar can already start to plan ahead for next season as Eibar look to break into the top half of the table in the near future.

© Reuters

Likewise, Valladolid's remaining games also hold little meaning for Sergio Gonzalez and Co. after another solid campaign in the top tier.

Valladolid have all but guaranteed that they will improve on last season's 16th-placed finish as they sit 14th with two games to go, although Gonzalez's men have lost their last two fixtures against Valencia and Barcelona respectively.

Valladolid have actually only managed to win eight of their 36 games thus far, although the 15 draws that they have played out have helped Gonzalez's men to gradually distance themselves from the bottom three.

Los Blanquivioletas will take on Real Betis in their final game of the season next weekend, and the focus now will be trying to avoid any long-term layoffs as Gonzalez prepares for the 2020-21 campaign.

Valladolid have not lost to Eibar since the 2004-05 campaign, and goals from Sergi Guardiola and the highly sought-after Mohammed Salisu gave Los Blanquivioletas a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.

Eibar La Liga form: WWLLDW

Real Valladolid La Liga form: DDDWLL

Team News

© Reuters

Eibar only have one confirmed absentee in the form of Ivan Ramis, who is unlikely to feature for the remainder of the campaign.

Gonzalo Escalante is also struggling with muscular discomfort but may be passed fit, while striker Sergi Enrich will be hoping to come back into the starting lineup for Thursday's fixture.

As for Valladolid, Ruben Alcaraz picked up his tenth yellow card of the season in the defeat to Barcelona and will serve a one-match suspension in midweek.

Fellow midfielder Michel is also sidelined through injury for Gonzalez's side, while Raul Garcia and Joaquin Fernandez had to be withdrawn last time out and are not expected to be available either.

A lengthy Valladolid injury list also includes Hatem Ben Arfa and Salisu - the latter's absence opening up a spot for Javi Sanchez to deputise in defence.

Eibar possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Tejero, Burgos, Oliviera, Cote; Leon, Diop, Exposito, Inui; Enrich, Charles

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:

Masip; Moyano, Olivas, Sanchez, Nacho; Plano, Emeterio, Fernandes, Rubio; Unal, Guardiola

We say: Eibar 1-1 Real Valladolid

With both clubs having already guaranteed their safety in La Liga, there is little to nothing riding on this fixture for the two managers. As a result, we are expecting the two sides to play out a draw and remain neck-and-neck in the table heading into the final weekend of the season.