Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Espanyol
Match Time & Date:
24/08/2024
20:30
Prediction: 1-2
Real Sociedad
Espanyol will look to make amends for a 1-0 loss to Real Valladolid when they take on Real Sociedad in the La Liga round 2. Los Periquitos failed to impress in their opener and it is no wonder the bookies see them as underdogs in Saturday’s encounter. Midfielder Exposito misses out with injury, while there are no fresh selection worries in the home team. The Basques, on the other hand, aim to recover from a 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano.
Real Sociedad are determined to return to winning ways and given Espanyol’s anything but promising display against La Pucela, we predict that the visitors are going to pick up all three points from the match. In their last encounter in Barcelona Real Sociedad defeated Espanyol 3-2. Martin Zubimendi, who won the European Championship with Spain earlier this summer, is widely expected to return to the starting XI. All Zubeldia, Odriozola, Zakharyan, and Tierney miss out with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Mikel Oyarzabal):
Intelligence is not an attribute you will find in Mikel Oyarzabal’s stats with Real Sociedad but this tricky winger is a highly knowledgeable winger who will use both brain and feet while playing. For a player born in Eibar, who made his first steps in his hometown club, it was always going to be a choice between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad for Oyarzabal.
La Real saw their chance and grabbed this gem of a player at a young age, helping him develop into a proper professional throughout their youth ranks. Mikel Oyarzabal has spent the entirety of his senior career with the Basque behemoths where he’d use his ability to fill in a number of positions up top much to his own benefit.
Oyarzabal’s positioning and movement are work of a tactical genius, whereas it is his nous to find details to exploit that best define him as a player. Having come through the youth categories of the Spanish national team, Oyarzabal also has a senior cap next to his name. It was in 2016 that he also represented the Basque region, scoring on his debut to cap a 3-1 win over Tunisia.
Highlighted Team (Espanyol):
Espanyol are a Catalan club that plays in Spanish La Liga. Espanyol were founded in 1900 and their original name was Sociedad Espanola de Football. In 1901 the Catalan club changed its name to Club Espanol de Futbol. Los Periquitos used to play in bright yellow shirts in the past, but current colour of the team’s home kit is blue and white.
Espanyol’s fiercest rivals are Barcelona and the two teams face each other in the Catalan derby (Derbi barceloni). Espanyol have always been in Barca’s shadow, but it has to be noted that los Periquitos have won four Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup trophies).
The likes of Raul Tamudo, Jose Maria, Antonio Argiles and Mauricio Pochettino are players with most appearances for the Catalan outfit. Espanyol play their home games at Estadio Cornella-El Prat and the capacity of the stadium is 40,500. Los Periquitos have never participated in the Champions League.
Fluminense
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