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

The Basque side made it seven with a hard-fought win over Celta Vigo on Sunday, while the visitors fell to a narrow home defeat to Sevilla.

Match preview

Since a 2-1 defeat to Getafe over a month ago, Real Sociedad have been flawless, winning their last seven games in all competitions for the first time in over 55 years.

Top of their Europa League group with a perfect record, and hot on the tails of Atletico Madrid and Real Betis in the race for the top four in LaLiga, Imanol Alguacil's men are playing intricate, possession-based football, with incisive passers and silky dribblers helping to slice through teams at will.

While the latest victory of their incredible run, a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday, might have been a bit stickier than some of the others, the performance demonstrated the strength in depth of a balanced squad, as Asier Illarramendi marked his first league start of the season with a powerful, left-footed goal.

Brais Mendez was once again a key player on the attacking front, providing an assist against his former club, for what is now his eighth goal involvement since his summer move.

Unbeaten in their last five games at home, and with confidence at an all-time high, the Txuri-urdin will certainly be eyeing up another three points here.

The visitors, on the other hand, are looking to put an end to a three-game winless streak, having been edged out by Jorge Sampaoli's Sevilla last weekend.

With five shots on target to Sevilla's one, a 35-yard screamer from Nemanja Gudelj, the island side will aggrieved to have lost a tight encounter, as they dearly missed suspended striker Vedat Muriqi up front.

Javier Aguirre's side have accumulated 5.08 expected goals in the three games since their last victory, to a cumulative 1.15 of their last three opponents, underlining the punishing nature of the top flight to teams who do not take their chances.

Without Muriqi once again, it is not going to get any easier for Mallorca in this game, but at least the underlying numbers suggest that they should at least be able to make a game of it in San Sebastian.

Real Sociedad La Liga form:

D

L

W

W

W

W

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Mallorca La Liga form:

D

L

W

L

D

L

Team News

Full-back Aihen Munoz picked up a thigh injury in that win over Celta Vigo, and looks to be out for around four weeks, according to reports. With Alex Sola also a doubt on the other side, both Diego Rico and Andoni Gorosabel should come in.

The home side are also likely to be without Mohamed-Ali Cho, while Mikel Oyarzabal and Umar Sadiq continue their long recoveries from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

The visitors will be without left-back Jaume Costa once more, allowing Brian Cufre a fourth consecutive start on the left of the back five.

Abdon Prats missed several opportunities as he filled in for the missing Muriqi, and could be replaced by Angel Rodriguez for this one as the Kosovan serves the second game of his three-match ban.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Rico, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Gorosabel; Merino, Zubimendi; Kubo, Silva, Mendez; Sorloth

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Cufre, Copete, Raillo, Valjent, Maffeo; De Galarreta, Baba, Sanchez; Lee, Rodriguez

We say: Real Sociedad 3-1 Mallorca

Real Sociedad always look strong at home, and will have the Reale Arena firmly behind them as they chase a record eighth consecutive win.

Mallorca have proven themselves to be a solid team, but are just lacking the finishing touches at the moment. They will not be given a second chance here, however, given the imperious form of their hosts.

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