Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Sevilla - prediction, team news

Sevilla will head to Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon knowing that a victory would move them to within three points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Julen Lopetegui 's side, who have won four of their last five in the league, are currently fourth in the table, while Real Sociedad occupy fifth position, 14 points behind their opponents this weekend.

Match preview

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Real Sociedad won the 2020 Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao earlier this month but are currently on a run of four matches without a victory in Spain's top flight.

Indeed, back-to-back draws with Athletic and Valencia have followed successive defeats to Granada and Barcelona, but the Basque outfit have thus far managed to hold onto fifth position in the table.

As mentioned, Real Sociedad are 14 points behind fourth-placed Sevilla, meaning that a spot in next season's Champions League is not up for grabs, but they will be determined to retain fifth spot, with Real Betis level on points in sixth and Villarreal in seventh just a point behind.

The White and Blues have only lost three of their 15 home league matches this term but have managed just six victories and will now be facing one of the form teams in the division.

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Sevilla are all but secure in the top four, and the Europa League holders might be eyeing a possible title challenge in the final weeks of the campaign, with just six points separating them from leaders Atletico.

Much of the talk has been whether Real Madrid or Barcelona will rise to the summit as Atletico stumble, but Lopetegui's side are also in the argument due to their impressive run of form.

Indeed, Sevilla have won four of their last five in the league, including a 1-0 success over Atletico on April 4, with Marcos Acuna scoring the only goal of the contest in the second period.

Los Nervionenses recorded a 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo on Monday evening, meanwhile, with Papu Gomez 's 76th-minute effort proving to be the difference in the seven-goal thriller.

Lopetegui's team have the fourth-best away record in Spain's top flight this term and ran out 3-2 winners when they faced Real Sociedad in the reverse match in January.

Real Sociedad La Liga form:

D

W

L

L

D

D

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

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D

D

W

D

D

Sevilla La Liga form:

L

W

W

D

W

W

Sevilla form (all competitions):

D

W

W

D

W

W

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Team News

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Real Sociedad will again be without the services of Luca Sangalli, David Silva, Asier Illarramendi, Aihen Munoz and Mikel Merino through injury, while Martin Merquelanz is unlikely to be unavailable for selection.

The Basque outfit will be boosted by the return of Igor Zubeldia and Martin Zubimendi from suspension, though, and the pair are expected to be handed starts on Sunday afternoon.

The home side could line up in a 3-4-3 formation this weekend, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Portu potentially starting alongside leading goalscorer Alexander Isak.

As for Sevilla, Sergio Escudero has recently been sidelined due to coronavirus, and the defender remains a major doubt for this weekend's contest.

The visitors are otherwise in excellent shape, and there are not expected to be many surprises in the starting XI, with Lopetegui potentially selecting the same side that featured against Celta.

Luuk de Jong and Oliver Torres are both options for change in attacking positions, but the pair could again start on the bench alongside the likes of Papu Gomez and Munir El Haddadi.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Elustondo, Le Normand, Zubeldia; Gorosabel, Guevara, Zubimendi, Monreal; Portu, Isak, Oyarzabal

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Bounou; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Acuna; Jordan, Fernando, Rakitic; Suso, En-Nesyri, Ocampos

We say: Real Sociedad 1-2 Sevilla

Sevilla would put themselves in the title picture with a victory on Sunday, and we are backing Lopetegui's side to triumph. Real Sociedad are certainly capable of picking up a positive result, but they are expected to again be without a number of important players, which has led to us backing Sevilla to edge a tight game.

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