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

Real Sociedad will be looking to make it successive La Liga victories when they continue their 2019-20 campaign away to Levante on Monday night.

The Basque outfit ended a poor run of form by beating Espanyol on Thursday night, while Levante will enter the match off the back of a goalless draw away to Real Valladolid.

Match preview

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Levante have finished 15th in their two seasons at this level since returning to the top tier for the 2017-18 campaign, but they are set to improve on that position this season.

Indeed, a total of 42 points from 33 matches has left them in 12th spot in the table, just four points off ninth-placed Granada, while they are only six points off eight-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Paco Lopez 's side have been in impressive form since returning to action in the middle of June, losing just one of their six matches, picking up two victories and three draws.

The Frogs will enter Monday's clash with Sociedad off the back of a goalless draw at Valladolid, but they recorded a 4-2 win over Real Betis in their last home league game on June 28.

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Sociedad, meanwhile, ended a run of four straight league defeats on Thursday night courtesy a 2-1 win over Espanyol, with Alexander Isak coming up with a late winner for the Basque club.

The team's poor form has seen their top-four hopes take a huge hit, although they are only seven points off fourth-placed Sevilla, indicating that there is still a small chance of a Champions League finish.

Sociedad will, at the very least, be keen to ensure that they secure a Europa League spot for next season, and they are only two points off sixth-placed Getafe on the same number of games (33).

Imanol Alguacil 's side have lost 13 times in the league this season, which is the most in the top half of the table.

The White and Blues are a team capable of putting a run of wins together between now and the end of the campaign, although they lost 2-1 to Levante in the reverse match at the Anoeta back in October.

Levante La Liga form: DDWLWD

Sociedad La Liga form: DLLLLW

Team News

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Levante will be without the services of Enis Bardhi through suspension due to the yellow card that the reported Arsenal target picked up against Valladolid last time out.

Ivan Lopez is still out with a knee problem, but the hosts are otherwise in good shape in terms of injuries, and there are not expected to be many surprises in the starting side.

There could be a change in the final third from the draw with Valladolid, though, as Jose Luis Morales is pushing to return to the XI, potentially in place of Roger Marti, while Sergio Leon could also start.

As for Sociedad, an extensive injury list includes Jon Bautista, Adnan Januzaj, Asier Illarramendi and Luca Sangalli.

Isak could be in Alguacil's thoughts for a starting role following his winner against Espanyol last time out, while Martin Odegaard could return to the side, having featured off the bench on Thursday amid concerns over a troublesome knee problem.

Portu and Mikel Oyarzabal are again expected to keep their spots in a wide position, with Brazilian forward Willian Jose starting through the middle.

Levante possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Coke, Postigo, Vezo, Tono; Rocinha, Vukcevic, Campana, Leon; Mayoral, Morales

Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Moya; Zaldua, Llorente, Le Normand, Monreal; Merino, Zubeldia; Oyarzabal, Odegaard, Portu; Willian Jose

We say: Levante 0-1 Real Sociedad

Sociedad were 3-1 winners on their last visit to Levante in November 2018, and we fancy another away victory here. The Basque outfit are chasing down a European position and should have enough to overcome a Levante team who have lost 15 of their 33 league matches this season.