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

High-flying Real Sociedad will be looking to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they welcome Eibar to San Sebastian on Sunday afternoon.

The Basque club are currently second in the La Liga table, one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid, while Eibar occupy 11th spot, having also made an encouraging start to the season.

Match preview

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Sociedad's league form this season has been excellent, winning seven, drawing four and losing just one of their 12 matches to collect 25 points, but they were knocked off top spot by Atletico last weekend.

The Basque outfit are just one point off the summit, although they have played two more matches than Atletico, who have a huge game away to bitter rivals Real Madrid on Saturday night.

Sociedad have actually not lost in any competition since a 1-0 reverse at home to Napoli in the Europa League at the end of October, although they have drawn each of their last five matches.

Imanol Alguacil 's side will enter this game off the back of a 1-1 draw with Napoli in Naples, which saw them book their spot in the knockout round of the Europa League behind the Italian giants.

La Real have also drawn with Villarreal and Alaves in their last two league games but will be determined to return to winning ways on Sunday ahead of a huge fixture away to Barcelona on December 16.

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Eibar, meanwhile, will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this contest, having drawn with Huesca, Getafe and Valencia, in addition to beating Real Betis, during the month of November.

An encouraging start to the 2020-21 campaign has seen Jose Luis Mendilibar 's side collect 14 points from 12 matches, which has left them in 11th position in the table.

Eibar are actually only four points off fifth-placed Cadiz, while they have lost just one of their last eight league games during a strong run of form, which includes a standout 1-0 win at Sevilla on October 24.

Los Armeros, who finished 14th in La Liga last season, will be the underdogs heading into this weekend's contest, but they have had much longer to prepare for the contest.

That said, Sociedad recorded victories in both league games between the two teams last season, including a comfortable 4-1 success in the corresponding match in November 2019.

Real Sociedad La Liga form: WWWWDD

Real Sociedad form (all competitions): WDDDDD

Eibar La Liga form: WLDDWD

Team News

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Sociedad will again be without the services of Luca Sangalli on Sunday, while Asier Illarramendi, Miguel Moya and Mikel Oyarzabal are likely to remain unavailable for selection.

David Silva should overcome a muscular complaint, though, while Aritz Elustondo has recovered from a rib problem and is likely to feature in the middle of the defence.

Ander Barrenetxea and Martin Merquelanz are both pushing for starts in the final third, while Adnan Januzaj should also feature alongside Alexander Isak in an attacking position, with Willian Jose and Portu potentially starting the contest on the bench following a difficult game in Naples.

As for Eibar, Cote and Quique Gonzalez remain on the sidelines through injury, but Paulo Oliveira is available after a recent issue and is an option to feature at the back.

On-loan Southampton forward Yoshinori Muto should again get the nod alongside Kike in the final third of the field, with Bryan Gil and Takashi Inui operating in the wide areas.

There could be a change in the middle of the park, though, with Sergio Alvarez potentially dropping out for Papa Diop, who was not involved in the goalless draw with Valencia last weekend.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Gorosabel, Elustondo, Le Normand, Munoz; D Silva, Zubimendi, Merino; Januzaj, Isak, Merquelanz

Eibar possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Correa, Burgos, Bigas, Arbilla; Inui, Exposito, Diop, Gil; Muto, Kike

We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 Eibar

Eibar are certainly a team to be respected at this level of football, but we are finding it difficult to back the visitors to pick something up here. Sociedad will not have had long to prepare for the contest following their exertions in the Europa League, but the Basque side should have enough to collect all three points.

Top betting tip

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