Liga Sunday Preview: Sociedad To Make Up lost Ground
Real Sociedad can regain lost ground at the top of the table as they entertain struggling Alaves in the Anoeta with several key players returning to action. The San Sebastian-based side have struggled in recent weeks and have watched as Madrid and Deportivo have leapfrogged them in the title chase. But Sociedad boss Raynald Denoueix admitted during Sociedad's pre-christmas run of form that luck had kept his small squad of players together. The visitors for this Basque derby are looking to recover from two games that have seen them concede an amazing 11 goals.
Real Sociedad can regain lost ground at the top of the table as they entertain struggling Alaves in the Anoeta with several key players returning to action. The San Sebastian-based side have struggled in recent weeks and have watched as Madrid and Deportivo have leapfrogged them in the title chase. But Sociedad boss Raynald Denoueix admitted during Sociedad's pre-christmas run of form that luck had kept his small squad of players together. The visitors for this Basque derby are looking to recover from two games that have seen them concede an amazing 11 goals.
Rayo Vallecano look set to join struggling Recreativo in the making the drop at the end of the season after three consecutive defeats has left them firmly stuck in the bottom three. The visit of Celta Vigo will do little to ease the nerves that are building in the Madrilenian club as they look to stop the rot. Miguel Angel Lotina's Galician side are unbeaten in four matches, but are eight points away from the Champions League places now and only a victory in this game will see them keep their dream of a top four finish alive.
At the start of the New Year, Real Betis looked a good bet to claim a Champions League place, but now they are struggling to earna Uefa Cup spot at the end of the season. Four defeats in their last five outings is worrying and they will not be relishing a trip to lowly Mallorca who have been buoyed by their qualification for the Copa Del Rey Final. The Balearic outfit saw off Deportivo in midweek and will hope to use that to lift them in the league where they have failed to register a win since January 12.
The arrival of Javier Clemente looked to have inspired Espanyol as they bid to jump clear of the relegation zone, but after a bright start to his third term at the helm the team are still in the mire at the foot of the table. On Sunday they face a true test of the survival ability as they visit rejuvenated Recreativo who qualified for their first ever appearance in the Copa Del Rey Final after beating Osasuna over two legs in the semis. But it is not only in the cup where Luis Alcaraz's side have improved, because they have won their last two league outings and now have a slim chance of avoiding an immediate return to the second division.
In Sunday's other clashes Nalaga play host to Athletic Bilbao in the mid-table encounter in La Rosaleda and Sevilla will hoping to keep up their push for a top six place as they welcome Osasuna to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.