Espanyol vs Real Sociedad Prediction & Betting Tips (24 August)

Promoted just one season after his descent, Espanyol intends to stay in the first division but they will have to get down to business quickly to get there. Traveling to their promotion friend Real Valladolid last weekend, the Catalan club lost its means by conceding a narrow 1-0 defeat. It's never good to start with a defeat and even more so when it's an opponent designed to maintain. It will be noted that during the preparation, the Barcelona players only won one of their five matches played. We can set the same table for Sociedad who greatly disappointed last weekend for their entry into the running against a possible candidate to maintain, Rayo Vallecano defeated 1-2.

In addition, as a reminder, the Basques had only lost one of their last five matches at home in the league. We will have to quickly turn the page for Take Kubo photo teammates and take this match on the move. The objective of the Basque club is obviously to be part of the race for the Champions League like two years ago when it finished in the top 4, allowing it to participate in the queen of European competitions and even to climb until the 1/8th final. 

Suffering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, midfielder Exposito (1 goal, 4 assists in Liga2 last year before his injury) will not participate in this game. This is ultimately the only absence due to injury among the locals. However, in terms of absence, we are obliged to mention that of Martin Braithwaite, author of 22 goals in the league last year (top scorer in D2) who joined the Brazilian club Gremio. He is not the only deserter since Keidi Bare (39 appearances, starters) joined Zaragoza for fear of not playing in D1, also departure of Jolelu who was on loan with OA from Real Madrid last year without forgetting to cite an essential boy like Nico Melamed (4 goals, 4 assists, free to Almeria), Keita Balde (end of loan), and defender Oscar Gil (Leuven). Recently, it was the young talent Kenneth Soler (4 goals with the reserves last year) who decided to go on loan to Murcia. In terms of arrivals at Llobregat, not much to report except the loans of Marash (AS Roma), Irvin Cardona (Augsburg), Alejo (Tottenham), Alex Kral (Union Berlin) and Carlos Romero (Villarreal). No recruits in the form of transfer. If Zubeldia, Zakharyan and Odriozola are injured, doubts about Merino regarding his future emerge, in particular for a direct transfer to the Gunners (probably absent this evening).

Note that Carlos Fernandez was not called up during the first day against Rayo. For the rest, the majority of major players were in line for the resumption. We will still note that Sociedad lost a pillar of the squad with Le Normand who chose to continue his career at Atlético Madrid while Diego Rico and Alex Sola signed for Getafe. Left backs Tierney and Javi Galan returned to their respective clubs at the end of last season (Arsenal and Atlético) while the often injured Martin Merquelanz joined Eibar in D2. In terms of arrivals, the Basque club still got its hands on Luka Sucic (Salzburg), Javi Lopez (Alaves), and Sergio Gomez (Man City). For the rest, it is a slaughter of loan returns which will take shape through sales or loan returns between now and the end of the transfer window.