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

The visitors have dropped to seventh position in the La Liga table, two points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, while Granada occupy 19th, 10 points from the safety of 17th spot.

Match preview

Time is running out for Granada, with the Andalusian outfit desperately needing to put some wins on the board in the coming weeks to stand any chance of escaping the relegation zone.

Grana boast a record of two wins, eight draws and 16 defeats from 26 league matches this season, which has left them in 19th position in the table on 14 points, 10 points behind 17th-placed Celta Vigo, albeit with a game in hand.

Alexander Medina's side drew three straight matches against Las Palmas, Barcelona and Almeria between February 3 and February 18, but they will enter this game off the back of a 5-1 defeat at Villarreal.

Granada, who won the Segunda Division last season to secure a return to the top level, have claimed 12 of their 14 points this season in front of their own supporters, and their home form will be crucial when it comes to their chances of moving closer to 17th position.

Grana have lost each of their last three league matches against Real Sociedad, including a 5-3 defeat when the two teams locked horns for the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Real Sociedad, though, will not enter this match full of confidence, having suffered four straight defeats, which has seen them exit two competitions in quick succession.

Imanol Alguacil's side lost on penalties to Mallorca in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey at the end of last month, while they were beaten 2-1 at home by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday evening to exit the competition 4-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.

The Basque outfit have also been beaten in three of their last four league matches during a tough period of the season, with the poor run of form seeing them drop down to seventh position in the table.

Real Sociedad are only two points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, but they sit 10 behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao and 15 from fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, so the club will not be playing Champions League football next season unless there is a huge turnaround in the latter stages of the campaign.

The White and Blues have not finished lower than sixth since the 2018-19 campaign, but they have some winnable matches to come, facing Granada and Cadiz in their next two, and the team boast the fourth-best away record in Spain's top flight this season.

Granada La Liga form:

L

L

D

D

D

L

Real Sociedad La Liga form:

D

D

L

W

L

L

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

L

W

L

D

L

L

Team News

Granada will welcome Gerard Gumbau back into their squad for this match, with the midfielder missing out against Villarreal last time out though suspension.

However, Jesus Vallejo is again set to miss out with a thigh problem, while goalkeeper Raul Fernandez remains a doubt due to a hamstring issue.

Bruno Mendez could be introduced into the defence for this contest, while there is also likely to be a start for Theodor Corbeanu following his impressive performance and goal off the bench against Villarreal.

As for Real Sociedad, Arsen Zakharyan, Aritz Elustondo, Alvaro Odriozola, Martin Merquelanz, Athen Munoz and Carlos Fernandez are set to miss the contest through injury.

Meanwhile, there will be no Jon Pacheco for the Basque outfit, as the defender is suspended due to the milestone yellow card that he picked up in the league game with Sevilla last time out.

Andre Silva and Kieran Tierney will both be pushing to return to the side following the clash with PSG, while there is set to be a start in a wide area for Ander Barrenetxea, with Sheraldo Becker expected to drop down to the bench.

Granada possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Mendez, Hongla, Miquel; R Sanchez, Ruiz, Villar, Neva; Corbeanu, Boye, Uzuni

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Galan; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Becker

We say: Granada 1-2 Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad are in desperate need of a win due to their recent run of defeats, and we are backing them to edge a close game on Saturday. Granada conceded five to Villarreal last time out and are likely to face more frustration when they host Alguacil's side this weekend.

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