Preview: Jove Espanol vs. Real Sociedad – prediction, team news, lineups

La Liga side Real Sociedad will get their Copa del Rey campaign underway when they face fifth-tier Jove Espanyol on Thursday.

The hosts have lost their last four matches, while the visitors will head into the first-round tie off the back of a narrow defeat to Osasuna.

Match preview

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Jove Espanol are competing in the Copa del Rey as a result of their performance in last season’s Tercera Federacion campaign.

They collected 64 points from 34 matches to finish in second position in Group Six and secure a place in the first round of the Copa del Rey.

Jove Espanol made a positive start to the new season by taking 10 points from their opening four league, but that encouraging start has been quickly forgotten following a dismal run of form.

They have lost each of their last four matches, including a 1-0 defeat in Sunnday’s away game against Saguntino, leaving them in 13th spot after eight rounds of matches.

Having scored just one goal in their previous four outings, Jove Espanol will need to produce something special if they are to trouble Real Sociedad in Thursday’s cup meeting.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will have aspirations of going deep into the Copa del Rey as they look to replicate the success of 2019-20 when they beat their rivals Athletic Bilbao to win the competition for the third time in their history.

La Real will certainly hope they can perform better in the cup than they have in the first few months of the league season, having won three, drawn three and lost five of their 11 La Liga matches.

Imanol Alguacil‘s side conceded two first-half goals to slump to a 2-0 defeat in Sunday’s home clash against Osasuna, leaving La Real in 12th place and six points adrift of the top six.

After suffering a fourth home league defeat of the season, Real Sociedad may be looking forward to heading on their travels, especially as they have not lost any of their previous four away matches in all competitions.

La Real may have suffered semi-final elimination at the hands of Mallorca last season, but because they lost out on penalties, they are still unbeaten in seven consecutive matches in the Copa del Rey.

Jove Espanol form (all competitions:

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

Team News

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Jove Espanol boss Josip Visnjic is set to name a backline of Samy, Marco di Menno, Zakaria and Walter Navarro.

Striker Avelino Sanchez could be given the thankless task of leading the line against a Real Sociedad side who have conceded just three goals in seven away games this season.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad is without the services of Hamari Traore, who is expected to miss the majority of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Midfielder Pablo Marin and attacker Arsen Zakharyan are not expected to recover in time for Thursday’s Copa del Rey clash.

Alguacil is set to make wholesale changes, with Aritz Elustondo, Javi Lopez, Benat Turrientes, Take Kubo and Umar Sadiq among those who could be considered for starting spots.

Jove Espanol possible starting lineup:
Real; Samy, Di Menno, Zakaria, Navarro; Garcia, Monti; Lara, Perez, Salero; Av. Sanchez

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Marrero; Odriozola, Elustondo, Pacheco, Lopez; Olasagasti, Turrientes, Mendez; Kubo, Becker, Sadiq

We say: Jove Espanol 0-4 Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad have struggled to consistently find the net in La Liga, but we believe a clash against a fifth-tier team will offer them the chance to produce a free-scoring display in what should be a comfortable outing for the top-flight side.

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