Real Sociedad does not want scares on its way to the second round
Imanol Alguacil’s men receive last-place Benfica, whom they beat in Lisbon, in order to almost seal their place in the round of 16
MADRID, 7 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad begins this Wednesday at the Reale Arena (6:45 p.m.) the second round of the group stage of the Champions League, with the firm objective of sentencing its place to the round of 16 of the highest European competition for what it must, First of all, beat the Portuguese Benfica again.
The Gipuzkoan team had a very solid first round, without losing, with two away victories, against the Austrian RB Salzburg and the Lisbon team, and a draw that could have even been more against the main rival, the Italian Inter Milan. Seven points that leave him well placed to be among the 16 best, which he now has to do with, mainly not failing at home.
If Imanol Alguacil’s men repeat their victory against Roger Schmidt’s men and the current runners-up beat Salzburg, they will have a very close match and will only need at least one point in their next two games. In case of a setback, they will not be able to relax, although in their favor is that they will play again at the Reale Arena the following day against the Austrian team before closing at the San Siro where they want to arrive with their homework done and with first place at stake.
To do this, the objective is to repeat the victory achieved in Da Luz a few weeks ago thanks to a goal from Brais Méndez, who has found the net in all the games in this group stage. In Lisbon, Real controlled the match very well and demonstrated the football maturity that they seem to have achieved this season despite their latest setback.
The Guipuzcoan team has suffered a lot of wear and tear in the agonizing defeat suffered last Saturday against FC Barcelona, once again letting points slip away in the final stretch, the main black point of the campaign, and which shows that it costs them the final minutes, surely due to the high rhythm it prints and some lack of wardrobe essentials.
The clash against the Blaugranas left both full-back Hamari Traoré and forward Ander Barrenetxea somewhat ‘touched’, and although both entered the Alguacil squad, they could have a rest and make way for Aritz Elustondo and Carlos Fernández, respectively. Not many more rotations are expected in a team where Igor Zubeldia and Brais Méndez must rest at the weekend due to suspension and where Kieran Tierney, André Silva and Jon Pacheco are out due to injury.
EL BENFICA, WITH DI MARÍA
Opposite, Benfica, an illustrious visitor to San Sebastián due to its status as two-time European Cup champion, in 1961 and 1962, but which faces the fourth day of the Champions League in the worst possible way, after losing its three meetings and being bottom. Furthermore, the Lisbon team has not managed to score a single goal yet and their fight to qualify for the round of 16 is very complicated and involves winning at the Reale Arena.
The ‘Águilas’ are not finding their way in the top European competition, where last year they were quarter-finalists and offered good football, but in their domestic league they are performing better and hope to finally transfer those good feelings. For now, Schmidt could opt for a change of system with three centre-backs, although the best news about him is that he has the talent of Ángel di María, absent in Da Luz.
On the other hand, Benfica, who also have a derby against Sporting at the weekend, will be without full-backs Alexander Bah and Juan Bernat, Turkish midfielder Orkun Kokcu and Brazilian winger David Neres.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro; Elustondo, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Muñoz; Méndez, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Carlos Fernández and Oyarzabal.
BENEFIT: Trubin; Silva, Otamendi, Morato; Aursnes, Neves, Joao Mario, Florentino; Rafa Silva, Guedes and Di María.
–REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (ENG).
–STADIUM: Reale Arena.
–TIME: 18.45/Movistar Champions League.