Real Sociedad vs Espanyol – News and Probable Lineups

Real Sociedad is set to seek a remedy to their early season woes as they prepare to welcome Espanyol this Saturday evening, aiming to prevent a third consecutive La Liga defeat.

Currently, the Basque club finds itself at the bottom of the La Liga standings without any points, whereas Espanyol occupies the seventh position, having secured three points from their initial two fixtures in the league.

Match overview

Real Sociedad commenced their 2026-27 La Liga season with a narrow 1-0 loss to Real Betis, followed by a heavier 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

Kylian Mbappe delivered a stunning performance for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad, netting a hat-trick, and the Basque side’s failure to earn points in their first two matches has left them stranded at the bottom of the table.

Last season, the White and Blues finished 10th in Spain’s elite division, but they have secured a spot in the Europa League for the 2026-27 season due to their success in the 2025-26 Copa del Rey.

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team has not enhanced their first-team squad this summer, but a transfer involving Barcelona’s Hector Fort is nearing completion, with additional signings expected before the transfer window closes.

Real Sociedad has not lost to Espanyol in any competition since November 2021, but the two league encounters last season ended in draws.

Espanyol kicked off their 2026-27 La Liga season with a 3-0 win over Levante, but they faced a 2-1 setback against Real Madrid in their most recent match.

With three points from their first two games, they have made a decent start to the campaign, currently sitting in seventh place, just three points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Under the guidance of Manolo Gonzalez, the team made six summer signings, with five being loan deals, and they have seen several players depart, creating a fresh look for the squad this season.

Last term, Espanyol finished 11th in Spain’s top flight, but they had an impressive first half of the 2025-26 season, looking like potential Champions League contenders.

Historically, Espanyol has won 52 and lost 67 of their 163 encounters with Real Sociedad, along with 44 matches ending in a draw.

Team News

Real Sociedad will again be without Alvaro Odriozola, who is sidelined with a long-term knee issue, while Jon Gorrotxategi and Pablo Marin are considered doubtful for the match.

Mikel Oyarzabal is anticipated to spearhead the attack, with Takefusa Kubo likely retaining his position in the wide areas for the Basque team.

However, changes can be expected from the side that faced Real Madrid, with Carlos Soler, Igor Zubeldia, and Ander Barrenetxea set to rejoin the lineup.

For Espanyol, Javi Puado and Kike Garcia are unavailable due to injuries, and Leandro Cabrera is suspended for this match.

Alex Calatrava delivered a solid performance against Real Madrid and is expected to start, while Javier Hernandez is likely to keep his place in the starting XI.

Roberto Fernandez has scored twice in two La Liga matches this season, and the 24-year-old will play a key role in the final third.

Real Sociedad probable starting XI:

Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Martin, Gomez; Herrera, Soler; Kubo, Sucic, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal

Espanyol probable starting XI:

Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Nunez, Riedel, Hinojo; Zarate, Exposito; Calatrava, Hernandez, Dolan; Fernandez

It seems unlikely that Real Sociedad will face a third consecutive defeat this season on Saturday; however, we anticipate that Espanyol may be strong enough to secure a draw.