Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo

The bid to qualify for the league portion of the next campaign's Europa League for Celta Vigo will continue on Tuesday evening, as a battered Real Sociedad side pays a visit to Balaidos Stadium.

The Sky Blues are in 7th place in the La Liga standings, two points clear of 8th-ranked Rayo Vallecano, while Real Sociedad has managed only 12th spot with their hopes of European football for next season soon ebbing away.

Real Sociedad will go into the Tuesday showdown against Celta vulnerable, having lost 4-0 to Atletico Madrid and which brought to an end a five-match winless run that has seen them slide to 12th in the league.

The Basque are not mathematically out of contention for European football next term, with four points separating them from the eighth-placed Rayo, whose performance at present assures them of a playoff in the Conference League.

Their side is six adrift from seventh-placed Celta in the fight for the Europa League, however, so a win on Tuesday night would leave them in a position to compete for seventh with five fixtures of the campaign remaining.

Facts are facts that this has been a pretty dismal La Liga season for Real Sociedad so far, who have only won 12 of their 35 games thus far with 16 defeats in-between, and they have only scored 32 times.

It will be an interesting summer transfer window for La Real with key player, Zubimendi seemingly almost certain to head for Arsenal whereas in turn head coach Alguacil is also leaving, so a new path is taken on by the team.

Celta haven’t been in the UEFA Europa League since the 2016-2017 season, when they memorably reached the semi-final of the competition only to be knocked out by Manchester United, and are eager for more action in the same competition next time out.

The Sky Blues have put together a strong campaign, earning 49 points from 35 matches with a record of 14 wins, seven draws, and 14 losses. They currently hold seventh place in the table, sitting two points clear of eighth-placed Rayo.

Under Claudio Giraldez, the team heads into this match fresh off an exciting 3-2 win over Sevilla. Their home form has been particularly impressive this season, securing 36 points from 18 games, including 11 victories.

However, Celta have struggled on the road, boasting only the 17th-best away record in La Liga. With just 13 points from 17 away matches, their form outside Vigo raises concerns ahead of this clash.

Celta will be aiming to complete a league double over Real Sociedad, having beaten them 2-0 earlier this season. Last year’s meeting between these sides ended in a 1-1 draw.