Real Sociedad get their 2023-24 Copa del Rey campaign underway with a showdown against Bunol on Wednesday evening.
While Sociedad currently occupy fifth place in La Liga, the home side ply their trade down in the sixth tier of Spanish football.
Match preview
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After the success of last season, Imanol Alguacil has ambitions to cement Sociedad's place in the La Liga top four and go as deep as possible in the Champions League.
The Spaniard will be delighted with his side's efforts thus far, with 19 points coming from 11 top-flight fixtures and back-to-back victories having recently been posted in Europe against Red Bull Salzburg and Benfica.
Their two defeats this season have come by 2-1 scorelines away at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid respectively, highlighting the standards that are being set at the Reale Arena.
However, there was frustration at the weekend as they had to make do with a 2-2 draw at Rayo Vallecano, initially coming from behind before their hosts equalised during the closing stages.
Sociedad now sit five points adrift of the top four, yet Alguacil will feel that his team are playing consistently enough to eventually close down at least one of the teams above them.
While Wednesday's fixture represents an opportunity for mass rotation, Alguacil will want to see a ruthless showing against opponents who should be no match for them.
Bunol have accumulated just 10 points from their opening seven league games in Autonomicas during 2023-24, losing just once but winning only twice.
Head coach Luis Navarro witnessed his team reach this stage of the competition by defeating Ceuta 6 de Junio by a 3-0 scoreline on October 11.
The club are no strangers to hosting La Liga opposition after facing Elche back in 2020, leading until the 66th minute until their opponents overturned matters and edged through.
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Team News
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Barring any fitness issues, Navarro may look to select the same Bunol XI that made light work of Ceuta 6 de Junio in the previous round.
In sharp contrast, Alguacil is likely to change the majority of his XI, particularly when Sociedad are playing Barcelona at the weekend.
That would still see the likes of Robin Le Normand, Mikel Merino, Arsen Zakharyan and Umar Sadiq come into the team.
Hamari Traore and Aihen Munoz may remain in the team courtesy of Alvaro Odriozola and Kieran Tierney being unavailable for selection.
Bunol possible starting lineup:
Paco; Dieguez, Duco, Gonzalez, De La Cruz; Pla, Lopez, Garcia, Gonzalez; Caballero, Civera
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Fraga; Traore, Elustondo, Le Normand, Munoz; Zakharyan, Merino, Gonzalez De Zarate, Olasagasti, Cho; Sadiq
We say: Bunol 0-5 Real Sociedad
While Sociedad may have to get used to the surroundings at Campo de Futbol Beltran Baguena, this should be nothing but one-way traffic. Bunol will gain great experience from this encounter, but the top-flight giants should not have to get out of first gear.
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