Despite being suspended after a yellow card for the season’s top scorer, Real Sociedad maintained a four-point lead over Real Betis. In the last game, the royal confidently defeated Almeria with a score of 2:0, which was already the tenth victory in the tournament, while 32 points correspond to the third position. After the success in the duel in Osasuna (2:0), today’s hosts managed to deal with Logrones (1:0). By the way, the victory in the last round was the fourth in a row, which did not escape the attention of the manager Imanol Alguasil, who praised the “brilliant work in defense” as part of the performance with “great merits”. Today in the infirmary are Turrientes, Cho, Sola, Sadiq and Merkelanz, who has a knee injury.
Athletic could have been two points behind Sociedad and within reach had they not squandered their chances against Real Betis (0:0) and Osasuna (0:0). Moreover, given the fact that the guests failed to beat Osasuna, there is reason to doubt the level of Bilbao. Ernesto Valverde could have benefited from these goalless draws, having an improvement in defense in the absence of injured defender Inigo Martinez, who has not played since the World Cup. Over 16 rounds the Lions have recorded seven wins and five draws, which corresponds to 26 points and seventh position in the standings. Martinez, who has a foot injury, will not be able to play today.
