MADRID, 5 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Levante hosts Real Sociedad this Friday (9:00 p.m.) to open matchday 35 of LaLiga Santander, in a duel that could define the very different future of both teams, since the Granotas, seven points from salvation, want to squeeze their remote chances of surviving, while the Basques know that a victory puts them squarely in the fight for Champions League places.
Alessio Lisci’s team is at the bottom with 26 points and sees permanence more as a utopia than a reality, seven points behind since it has lost the ‘average goal’. Especially after the draw (1-1) against Valencia at the Mestalla, which he knew little about and is not enough to battle with his direct rivals for the goal.
The Granotas see the Second Division very close and they know that they have it practically impossible. In fact, as his coach already said, salvation will surely come from winning the last four games of the championship. A company that seems very difficult and rushed, but they do not give up and will seek their sixth victory against Real Sociedad in 2022, after two games without winning.
However, the streak at home is not the desired one, after losing to Barça (2-3) and Sevilla (2-3). Only Cádiz has added fewer points (14) at home than Levante (16). A statistic that improves against those from San Sebastián, losing only 2 of their last 11 duels at the Ciutat.
And a victory would put pressure on their rivals -Alavés, Granada, Mallorca and Cádiz- who, except for the vermilions, also scored points on the last day. In addition, it would be the best way to start a key final stretch, in which they will also visit Real Madrid, host Alavés and close their season in Vallecas.
Lisci, with no sanctioned players, sees how the infirmary is emptying out, after Roger has already trained with the team and Clerc is also on the pitch, although he does not exercise with the group. De Frutos and Mustafi continue to be unavailable. Thus, the coach will be able to repeat eleven, the system of five non-negotiable defenses and with ‘Comandante’ Morales as the only burning nail to hold on to.
LA REAL CAN PRESENT A CANDIDACY FOR THE POSITIONS OF CHAMPIONS
On the contrary, Real Sociedad fights, with its 56 points and installed in sixth place, it is aware that a victory would put it squarely in the fierce fight for Champions League positions. The goal is to hunt down Atlético, fourth with 61 units, the ‘txuri-urdin’ rival on the day that will close the championship.
But their European ambition has suffered in recent weeks, as they have gone three games without a win and added just two points out of nine. But she is forced not to lower her arms to be able to fight to sneak into the top four classified for the third time in the 21st century.
Those of Alguacil will have to be more successful in front of goal, a facet that the San Sebastian team is resisting, with only four goals in the last six games. Good fault of this is the ‘fallona’ version of Isak (five goals in 29 league games) and Sorloth (3 goals in the same games).
But the Swedish striker, who has seen the door on his two visits to the Ciutat, will once again be the benchmark of the diamond system that seems to convince Imanol Alguacil in recent weeks. The return of David Silva after suspension is the best news for the coach, who has the already known casualties of Monreal, Oyarzabal, Carlos Fernández and Barrenetxea.
–PROGRAM OF THE DAY 35 OF LALIGA SANTANDER.
-Friday, May 6.
Levante – Royal Society. Alberola Rojas (CC-La Mancha) 21.00.
-Saturday 7.
Majorca – Grenada. From Burgos Bengoetxea (C. Vasco) 14.00.
Athletic-Valencia. Díaz de Mera Escuderos (CC-La Mancha) 16.15.
Celtic – Alaves. Cuadra Fernández (Balearic C.) 18.30.
Cadiz – Elche. Hernández Hernández (C.Canario) 18.30.
Betis – FC Barcelona. Mateu Lahoz (C.Valenciano) 21.00.
-Sunday, May 8.
Getafe – Rayo Vallecano. Melero López (C.Andaluz) 14.00.
Villarreal – Seville. Gil Manzano (C.Extremeño) 16.15.
Espanyol – Health. Jaime Latre (C.Aragonés) 18.30.
Atletico Madrid – Real Madrid. Soto Grado (C.Riojano) 21.00.