Real Sociedadvs.Dynamo Kiev

The Basque side are sitting in 16th spot in the league phase, while their Ukrainian visitors are languishing at the foot of the standings.

Match preview

Real Sociedad have experienced mixed results in their European campaign, having won two, drawn one and lost two of their five matches in the league phase.

After taking one point from their first two matches, Real Sociedad went on to claim a much-needed victory against Maccabi Tel Aviv, before they were stopped in their tracks by a 2-1 defeat to Viktoria Plzen on matchday four.

However, La Real produced a positive response in their next Europa League outing, with Ander Barrenetxea and Take Kubo grabbing a goal apiece in a 2-0 victory over Ajax, representing their first home European home win of the season and their opponents' first defeat since August.

That result also helped kickstart a four-game winning run, which has seen Real Sociedad claim La Liga victories against Real Betis and Leganes on either side of an extra-time victory over Conquense in the Copa del Rey.

Having kept six clean sheets in their last seven matches, La Real will try to produce another strong defensive display in Thursday's European fixture, as they look to close the two-point gap to the top eight.

They will also be aiming to continue their impressive run of home form, having won each of their previous three competitive outings at the Reale Arena, beginning with a 1-0 league victory over Barcelona on November 10.

In contrast to their hosts, Dynamo Kiev are on the brink of an early exit after losing each of their opening five matches in the league phase.

They lost to Lazio, Hoffenheim, Roma and Ferencvaros without troubling the scorers, before they finally found the net in their most recent European outing against Viktoria Plzen.

Unfortunately for Dynamo, Vladyslav Kabaiev's 95th-minute effort proved to be a mere consolation in a 2-1 defeat, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table as the only team yet to pick up a point in the Europa League league phase.

With five points separating them from the top 24, the Ukrainian side will have to produce something remarkable in their final three matches against Real Sociedad, Galatasaray and RFS if they are to have any hope of featuring in the knockout rounds of a European competition for the first time since 2020-21.

Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's side will head into Thursday's fixture off the back of a 3-0 victory over title rivals Oleksandriya, maintaining their unbeaten record in the Ukrainian Premier League this season.

The Ukrainian Premier League leaders will hope to carry some of their domestic form onto the European stage as they look to end their nine-game winless away run in the main draw of UEFA competitions (D1, L8)

Real Sociedad Europa League form:

D

L

W

L

W

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

W

W

Dynamo Kiev Europa League form:

L

L

L

L

L

Dynamo Kiev form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

L

Team News

Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil remains without the injured trio of Aritz Elustondo, Hamari Traore and Arsen Zakharyan.

Orri Oskarsson and Benat Turrientes are both major doubts due to muscle issues, while Aihen Munoz, Martin Zubimendi and Sergio Gomez will all have to be assessed after they picked up knocks in Sunday's 3-0 win over Leganes.

Barrenetxea could be among those presented with a starting berth after he came off the bench to score his fifth goal of the season at the weekend.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Volodymyr Shepelev, Andriy Yarmolenko and Brayan Ceballos.

Defender Vladyslav Dubinchak is set to feature among the substitutes after serving a one-match suspension on matchday five following his red card against Ferencvaros.

Vanat will continue to lead the line for the visitors, with the striker looking to add to the 12 competitive goals he has scored this season.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Lopez; Kubo, Sucic, Olasagasti, Barrenetxea; Mendez, Oyarzabal

Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:

Bushchan; Tymchyk; Popov, Mykhavko, Vivcharenko; Brazhko, Shaparenko; Kabaev, Buyalskyy, Voloshyn; Vanat

We say: Real Sociedad 2-0 Dynamo Kiev

Written by

Ben Sully

Previews by email