Real Sociedad wants to secure its sixth place in Elche
MADRID, 9 Apr. (SportsFinding) –
Real Sociedad is seeking this Sunday in Elche (6:30 p.m.) to establish itself in the last of the places of access to Europe in LaLiga Santander, in a thirty-first day in which Julio Velázquez debuts as coach of Deportivo Alavés with the mission of winning against Osasuna (2:00 p.m.) to try to get out of the hole and in which RCD Espanyol and RC Celta face each other in the middle of the table (4:15 p.m.).
The people from San Sebastian are sixth with 51 points, six behind the ‘Champions’ zone and with six more than the first of the contenders to take the place, all thanks to having added seven of the last nine points at stake.
The victory against Espanyol (1-0) and Villarreal’s stumble (45) in the Ciutat de València allows Imanol Alguacil’s men to breathe easy, and now they will try to increase their advantage in a duel in which they will once again regret the absence by Mikel Oyarzabal, Nacho Monreal and Ander Barrenetxea and in which Mikel Merino will presumably feature.
Opposite, Elche wants to win again at home after two games without doing it in front of their fans, and break a series of two straight losses. The group from Elche, with 32 units, cannot relax if they do not want to be reached by the burning zone, six below.
Francisco will not have at his disposal Javier Pastore, who is serving his last game of suspension, nor the injured Lucas Boyé and John Nwankwo, but in exchange he will be able to recover both Mojica and Josan.
VELÁZQUEZ PREMIERES AGAINST OSASUNA
For its part, Deportivo Alavés has put an end to the ‘Mendilibar era’ and has entrusted Julio Velázquez to try to get out of its distressing situation. With 22 points, six from safety, the team from Vitoria is bottom of the category after conceding three defeats in recent dates, which precipitated the dismissal of the Biscayan coach.
Now, the coach from Salamanca will try to repeat the feat he achieved last year in Portugal with Marítimo, which he took from the last position in the table to permanence in just 11 days. Now, however, he has only eight left to search for the ‘miracle’.
Neither Pere Pons nor Javi López will be available for the match against the Navarrese, without emergencies thanks to some 38 points that almost guarantee salvation, which could even be mathematical if they win this Sunday. Those of Jagoba Arrasate, yes, want to erase the bad image given in last day’s defeat against Real Betis (4-1).
Lastly, Espanyol and Celta meet at the RCDE Stadium without too many pretensions; Both are tied on points in the standings (36) and except for catastrophe they are saved, so it will be a clash to decide who will come out ahead.
The parakeet team lost last day against Real (1-0), and the Galicians did the same in Real Madrid’s controversial visit to Balaídos (1-2), in which they suffered three penalties against. Raúl de Tomás is in doubt due to discomfort in his shoulder, while the team from Vigo will have the only loss of its captain, Hugo Mallo.
–SUNDAY PROGRAM IN LALIGA SANTANDER.
Osasuna – Alaves. Muñiz Ruiz (C. Gallego) 2:00 p.m.
Spanish – Celtic. Alberola Rojas (CC-La Mancha) 4:15 p.m.
Elche – Royal Society. Cuadra Fernández (Balearic C.) 6:30 p.m.
Raise – FC Barcelona. Munuera Montero (C.Andaluz) 9:00 p.m.