Can Real Sociedad Rebound or Will Las Palmas Cling to Survival?
As we look ahead to this weekend's La Liga showdown, there’s a fascinating undercurrent to the match between Las Palmas and Real Sociedad. Set at the Estadio de Gran Canaria, the stakes couldn’t be more contrasting. On one side, we have a Las Palmas team desperately clawing to avoid relegation. On the other, a Real Sociedad side licking their wounds after a heartbreaking Copa del Rey exit and looking to salvage some pride in the league.
Las Palmas currently find themselves languishing in 19th place. With 26 points from 29 games, they’re one point shy of safety, trailing 17th-placed Alaves. It's tight at the bottom, and with just five points separating the 15th and 19th positions, every match could spell doom or deliverance. Diego Martinez’s men have shown flickers of resilience lately—drawing three of their last four—but they haven't tasted a league win since before the winter break. Their last outing ended in a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo, and while they're showing grit, they’re still searching for that spark to turn draws into victories.
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Their opponents, Real Sociedad, are navigating their own maze of inconsistency. Sitting 10th in the table with 38 points, La Real are well adrift of the European spots. Their midweek 4-4 thriller against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey was exhilarating but ultimately futile, as they bowed out of the competition 5-4 on aggregate. Despite the entertaining football, the Basque side have not been able to translate that energy into consistent league success, particularly away from home—they haven’t won on the road since December.
Team news is adding complexity to both sides. Las Palmas could be without experienced goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, with Dinko Horkas likely to step in. Kirian Rodriguez and Benito Ramirez remain out, while Fabio Silva, with eight league goals, and Sandro Ramirez are expected to lead the charge up front.
Real Sociedad have their own injury woes. Becker, Zakharyan, Pacheco, and Mendez are sidelined, and Nayef Aguerd’s fitness remains uncertain after his knock against Real Madrid. The return of Barrenetxea from suspension is a boost, but a lot of weight will be on Mikel Oyarzabal, who’s had an excellent campaign with 14 goals and 7 assists.
With both teams struggling for momentum, it feels like a cagey affair is on the cards. Real Sociedad have the quality, but Las Palmas have the hunger. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this end in a stalemate—perhaps a 1-1 draw, which helps neither side but reflects their current forms.
One thing’s for sure: for Las Palmas, every point counts now. And for Real Sociedad, it’s about finishing strong, even if Europe looks like a dream fading in the rearview.
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