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

Real Sociedad will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga when they welcome Valencia to San Sebastian on Tuesday night.

The Basque club have picked up five points from their first three league matches of the season to sit third in the table, while Valencia have managed four points from their first three outings in 2020-21.

Match preview

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Sociedad actually started their La Liga season with back-to-back draws, sharing the points with Real Valladolid on the opening weekend of the campaign before playing out a goalless draw with Real Madrid on September 20.

Imanol Alguacil 's side put their first three points on the board in impressive fashion on Saturday, though, as they ran out 3-0 winners at Elche courtesy of goals from Portu, Adnan Januzaj and Roberto Lopez.

The Basque side finished sixth in La Liga last season, which was enough for a spot in the group stages of the Europa League, but they were 14 points off fourth-place Sevilla in Spain's top flight.

Sociedad will certainly be looking to push closer to the Champions League spots this season and will hope that David Silva can play a leading role in their charge, having arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City.

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Valencia, meanwhile, started their season with a 4-2 win over Levante at the Mestalla but lost 2-1 at Celta Vigo on September 19 before being held to a 1-1 draw by Huesca on Saturday.

Los Che took the lead against the newly-promoted side in the first half, but Dimitrios Siovas levelled the scores just past the hour and that was how it finished in Valencia.

The former Spanish champions finished fourth in 2017-18 and 2018-19 but claimed ninth last term, and it could be a difficult campaign for the club as a number of key players have been moved on for financial reasons.

There has been a number of exits this summer and not a single incoming, meaning that it would be a huge surprise if the club were to push high up the table, despite having a number of talented players in their ranks.

Real Sociedad La Liga form: DDW

Valencia La Liga form: WLD

Team News

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Sociedad still have a number of injury concerns with Asier Illarramendi, Luca Sangalli, Martin Merquelanz, Joseba Zaldua and Igor Zubeldia all expected to miss out through injury.

Januzaj and Lopez both scored after coming off the bench at Elche, but it would not be a surprise to see Alguacil stick with the same XI that started Saturday's contest.

Nacho Monreal could return to the side at left-back, but Alexander Isak is expected to keep his spot at the top of the attack ahead of Willian Jose, who is again being linked with a move away from the club.

As for Valencia, Gabriel Paulista and Eliaquim Mangala remain on the sidelines through injury, meaning that Hugo Guillamon should keep his spot in a defensive area.

Kevin Gameiro was a late substitute against Huesca on Saturday and could now come into the starting XI alongside Maxi Gomez in the final third of the field.

Uros Racic was given the nod to start alongside Geoffrey Kondogbia in midfield, meanwhile, and that could again be the case on Tuesday, although 17-year-old Yunus Musah is pushing for a recall.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Gorosabel, Elustondo, Le Normand, Monreal; Portu, D Silva, Guevara, Merino, Oyarzabal; Isak

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Domenech; Wass, Diakhaby, Guillamon, Gaya; Jason, Kondogbia, Racic, Guedes; Gomez, Gameiro

We say: Real Sociedad 2-1 Valencia

Sociedad were excellent against Elche on Saturday, and we fancy the Basque side to pick up another three points here. Valencia still have a number of excellent players, but it could be a tough campaign for Los Che due to a lack of depth in the squad. It should be a close game on Tuesday, but we are backing the hosts.

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