Leganes Vs Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad will be looking to extend their winning streak to four matches across all competitions when they face Leganés in La Liga on Sunday afternoon. The match is set to take place after both teams have been involved in Copa del Rey action, with the visitors coming off a 1-0 victory over Conquense to advance to the third round, while Leganés had a more dramatic progression, defeating Estepona 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Leganés, under the guidance of manager Borja Jiménez, had a tough encounter in the second round of the Copa del Rey against Estepona, a team from Spain's fourth tier. The match, played at the Estadio Municipal Francisco Muñoz Pérez, ended in a 2-2 draw after Leganés twice had to recover from behind, facing significant challenges from their lower-league opponents. Despite the difficulties, Leganés eventually triumphed in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, winning 5-4 to secure their place in the third round of the prestigious Spanish cup competition.

In recent league action, Leganés has experienced mixed fortunes. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Alavés in their most recent La Liga fixture, which was played at home, and this has left them sitting in 15th place on the La Liga standings with 15 points. Their record so far this season stands at three wins, six draws, and six losses from 15 matches. Despite their struggle to find consistent form, Leganés’ resilience in the Copa del Rey, where they managed to overcome Estepona in a dramatic penalty shootout, demonstrated their ability to fight back even when faced with adversity. 

Promoted to La Liga as champions of the Segunda División for the 2024-25 season, Leganés is eager to establish themselves as a regular top-flight team. Their aim is to secure back-to-back seasons in the Spanish top division for the first time since 2020, a significant goal for the club, which is seeking to build upon their success from the previous campaign. 

While Leganés is trying to regain a foothold in La Liga, their history against Real Sociedad has been a mixture of competitive matches and memorable results. The last time the two sides met in the league, in February 2020, Leganés managed to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1, a result that will certainly give them confidence going into this weekend's encounter. Moreover, they have lost just one of their last four league meetings against the Basque side, suggesting that they have often been able to hold their own against this particular opponent. 

On the other hand, Real Sociedad will be aiming to get their first away win against Leganés in La Liga since October 2016. Although the Basque side has not had the best away record in recent seasons, they will take heart from their most recent encounter with Leganés, when they triumphed 3-2 in a Copa del Rey clash at the start of 2022. However, that victory will likely count for little when the two teams meet this weekend in the league, with both sides having undergone significant changes since then.

Under the stewardship of head coach Imanol Alguacil, Real Sociedad has been in impressive form. They have recently demonstrated their strength in European competition, defeating Ajax 2-0 in the Europa League at the end of November, a result that reaffirmed their aspirations of competing on multiple fronts this season. Their solid performance in Europe was followed up by a comprehensive 2-0 win over Real Betis in La Liga last weekend, which has further boosted their momentum heading into this fixture against Leganés.

Despite their positive results in recent matches, Real Sociedad is far from content with their current position. They are currently ninth in the La Liga standings, with six wins, three draws, and six losses from 15 matches. While they are eight points behind the top four, they do have a game in hand on fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, meaning that a successful run of form could yet see them break into the coveted Champions League spots. However, the challenge remains daunting, as they will need to overcome some of the more established sides in Spain, including the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid, to secure a place in European competition for next season.

One of the areas that Alguacil will be hoping to improve upon is his team's away form. Real Sociedad has only earned the seventh-best away record in La Liga this season, picking up 11 points from their seven matches on the road. While this is far from disastrous, it has left them trailing some of the teams at the top of the standings in terms of consistency away from home. Against a team like Leganés, who has shown vulnerability at home this season, Real Sociedad will be hoping to make the most of their superior squad depth and quality, and secure an important three points on the road. Leganés, in contrast, has endured a difficult time at home in the 2024-25 season, having lost three of their seven home games so far. This will give Real Sociedad a boost, as they look to capitalize on the home side's weaknesses and earn a much-needed win away from home.

Despite the clear differences in league position and overall squad quality, the match between Leganés and Real Sociedad promises to be a competitive and intriguing encounter. Both teams have had their fair share of challenges this season, but they have also shown moments of resilience and quality that suggest they can be dangerous on their day. For Leganés, the key will be to continue their strong defensive displays, particularly at home, where they will need to improve if they are to survive in La Liga for another season. On the other hand, Real Sociedad will need to continue their strong run of form, particularly in attack, where they will hope to unlock the Leganés defense and secure the three points that will keep them in the hunt for European qualification.

As both teams prepare for this crucial encounter, they will be well aware of the importance of the result. For Leganés, this match represents a chance to climb out of the lower half of the table and move closer to mid-table safety. For Real Sociedad, the pressure is on to maintain their recent form and push for a top-four finish in La Liga, which would guarantee them a place in next season's Champions League. With both teams so evenly matched in terms of recent form, the outcome of this fixture could prove to be pivotal in shaping their respective seasons. 

In conclusion, the match between Leganés and Real Sociedad on Sunday promises to be an exciting and competitive contest. Both teams have a lot at stake, and the result will have significant implications for their ambitions this season. Leganés will be looking to build on their Copa del Rey success and improve their position in La Liga, while Real Sociedad will be striving to continue their winning streak and push for a place in Europe next season. It is a game that both sets of fans will be eagerly anticipating, and it will undoubtedly have a major impact on the direction of their campaigns in the coming weeks.