Real Sociedad will be aiming to further strengthen their grip on a top-four spot in the La Liga table when they welcome an in-form Girona to San Sebastian on Saturday afternoon.
The home side are currently fourth, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, while Girona occupy seventh - a position that would see them qualify for the Europa Conference League playoff round.
Match preview
© Reuters
Real Sociedad have not claimed a top-four position in La Liga since 2012-13, so it would be a big achievement for them to secure a Champions League spot for the 2023-24 campaign.
The Basque outfit are in pole position to finish fourth, sitting seven points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal with five games left, so it would take a remarkable turnaround for them to drop out at this stage.
Imanol Alguacil's side have responded impressively to their loss at Athletic Bilbao in the middle of April, picking up 10 points from their last four matches, including back-to-back wins over Osasuna and Real Madrid.
Real Sociedad still have to travel to Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before the end of the season, but the former could have won the title by the time that the two teams lock horns on May 20.
Alguacil's team have been relatively strong at home this season, picking up 31 points from their 16 matches in front of their own supporters, and they will be welcoming a Girona outfit that have managed just three wins from their 16 games on their travels in 2022-23.
© Reuters
Girona, meanwhile, have won four of their last five in the league during an excellent run of form, and the team now have their eyes firmly on a European finish in Spain's top flight.
Michel's side will enter the match off the back of three straight victories over Real Madrid, Sevilla and Mallorca, while they have only lost once in the league since the middle of March.
Girona are currently seventh in the table, which would see them qualify for the Europa Conference League playoff round, while they are only five points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, who are currently in a position to advance to the group stage of the Europa League.
The White and Reds were only promoted to La Liga via last season's Segunda Division playoffs, so it has been a remarkable campaign, and they are looking for their highest-ever finish in the top flight.
Girona have not actually beaten Real Sociedad since a Segunda Division clash in February 2010, and they suffered a 5-3 defeat to the Basque outfit in the reverse game between the two sides last term.
Team News
© Reuters
Real Sociedad have not been in action since the 2-0 win over Real Madrid on May 2, but the home side will still be without Sadiq Umar and Martin Merquelanz due to fitness issues.
Igor Zubeldia is also unavailable with the issue that he suffered against Los Blancos, so Jon Pacheco is likely to come into the back four for the Basque outfit this weekend.
There are unlikely to be any changes in midfield or attack, though, with Takefusa Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal set to support Alexander Sortloth in the final third of the field.
As for Girona, Aleix Garcia, Borja Garcia, Toni Villa, Joel Roca, Yangel Herrera and Ibrahima Kebe remain on the sidelines through injury.
Head coach Michel could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Mallorca last time out, with Valentin Castellanos, who has scored 13 league goals this season, leading the line.
Rodrigo Riquelme should also retain his spot in a wide area, while there are unlikely to be any alterations at the back, with the in-demand Arnau Martinez set to feature on the right side of the defence.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Gorosabel, Pacheco, Le Normand, Munoz; Merino, Zubimendi, D Silva; Kubo, Sorloth, Oyarzabal
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Martinez, Bueno, Espinosa, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu, Reinier; Tsygankov, Castellanos, Riquelme
We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Girona
Real Sociedad are in pole position to finish fourth in the table, and they will be the favourites on home soil, but Girona's recent form cannot be ignored, and we have therefore had to settle on a low-scoring draw here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
