LaLiga – Match-day 31 Sees Elche take on Real Sociedad

Sunday LaLiga action from Estadio Martínez Valero, as Elche take on Real.

Real currently sit in sixth place as they travel to fourteenth placed Elche.

This season’s LaLiga campaign, has so far seen Elche achieve 32 points

Whilst Elche need a positive result from this fixture, they cannot afford to throw caution to the wind. Another successive defeat for ilicitano after losing against Athletic Bilbao and Valencia would represent a worrying sign of where they are just now.

Also, With 32 points (8W, 14L and 8D), they are established in fourteenth position in the League having won eight meetings, drawn eight fixtures, and lost 14 matches.

When Elche host Real, they will do so on the back of five victories, five draws, and four losses on their own ground.

Elche will have 35 points if they manage to secure a victory.

Francisco will be forced to make changes to the plans for his squad, as injury or illness has depleted him of four of his Elche players.

With the LaLiga season well into its stride, Real Sociedad have managed to gain 51 points

It was three points secured for Real in their last fixture, beating Espanyol 1-0 at the Reale Arena.

Also, Real keep finding ways to win, having secured five victories in their last eight games is astonishing this season. Their position is sixth in the League and they have 51 points, that is, 14W, 7L and 9D having won 14 meetings, drawn nine fixtures, and lost seven meetings.

Real’s away record is remarkable and poses a significant threat to Elche. In the 15 games they’ve played on the road this season, they have so far won five matches, drawn five games, and lost five fixtures.

Real Sociedad will have secured 54 points so far this season, should they secure a win.

A solid defensive team

Real’s defence has been rock solid so far, only conceding 29 goals in their previous fixtures. The number of goals that a team scores can sometimes give a misleading impression of performance. Real have found the net 30 times (27 from open play and three penalties), but their performance at times this season has been average. This is largely down to the efforts of their stand-out attackers – Mikel Oyarzabal (2), Martin Zubimendi (1), and Aritz Elustondo (1).

Imanol Alguacil could be missing up to four of their players through injury or illness for the game on Sunday.

Elche v Real Sociedad – Head-to-Heads.

Regarding their historical duels the recent form between these two sides has seen Real with a greater number of wins. In the last 13 meetings, they have enjoyed seven wins, to Elche’s three wins. In addition, Real have been hugely successful away to Elche of late, winning 13 fixtures times in the last seven. The last time they played each other in this competition Real Sociedad secured a 1-0 home win.

Players to watch

For Elche, Pere Milla has nettedthree goals in 30 League matches so far, while Mikel Oyarzabal, one of their best scorers, has nettedtwo goals in 30 League games this season for Real.

Other standout players for Elche are Fidel and Lucas Boye with three goals and two goals respectively and for Real are Mikel Oyarzabal and Martin Zubimendi with two goals both.