Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Real Sociedad
Match Time & Date:
24 August 2025
18:30
Prediction: 2-1
Espanyol
After sharing the spoils with Valencia at Estadio de Mestalla, Real Sociedad will look to return to winning ways when they face Espanyol on Sunday evening. La Real are a real force to be reckoned with at home, but they will have to showcase their worth on the field. All Balda, Gorrotxategi, and Marchal remain in the treatment room, while Goncalo Guedes is pushing for his full Real Sociedad debut.
Los Periquitos, on the other hand, came from behind to shock star-studded Atletico Madrid in their opener. The Catalans, though, are not regarded as good travellers and we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Real Sociedad’s party in San Sebastian. You should know that Real Sociedad have emerged triumphant in each of the previous five meetings with Espanyol in the Spanish top flight. Defender Miguel Rubio is widely expected to return to the Espanyol starting XI after scoring as a substitute against los Rojiblancos.
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.
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Sporting 
Kairat Almaty 
