Vallecas measures the launched Real, Betis seeks to forget the pain and Sevilla lives a key derby

MADRID, 20 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Sociedad will want to confirm their league ambitions this Saturday in the always complicated visit to Vallecas, while Real Betis will want to forget their last painful results against a needy Espanyol and Sevilla lives a key derby against the angry Cádiz, in matches corresponding to the eighteenth day of LaLiga Santander 2022-2023.

The Saturday league activity will open in Vallecas (2:00 p.m.) where an attractive duel is expected between two teams in a good line and that are committed to good play such as Rayo Vallecano, ninth, and, above all, Real Sociedad, third.

Imanol Alguacil's team is immersed in another great moment of level and results and will be planted in the Madrid neighborhood after eight consecutive victories between the League and the Copa del Rey and ready to close the first round of the championship as still aspiring to the title and to play in the League next year's Champions.

The 'txuri-urdines', although with one more game, are six points behind leaders FC Barcelona and three behind Real Madrid, whom they intend to reach provisionally and before paying a visit to them at the Santiago Bernabéu. Two games in the capital that could dictate a good part of the future of the San Sebastian team, right now with a seven-point advantage over the fifth-placed team.

La Real will try to get out of the Vallecas fort, a scenario where it is always difficult for teams of their style due to the good pressure and the desire that the locals put in. Encouraged after passing the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey with a long-suffering victory against Mallorca (1-0), where Alguacil made some rotations and where Mikel Oyarzabal started for the first time.

The captain is picking up pace and could repeat in the eleven against Rayo Vallecano, being one of the novelties in a team that will have the important casualties of Mikel Merino, injured in the 'k.o' tournament like Andoni Gorosabel, and the sanctioned Martin Zubimendi.

Opposite, a Rayo Vallecano who usually gives good measure in front of his fans despite losing in his last home game against another Champions contender like Betis (1-2), who together with Mallorca has been the only one to win in the Vallecano feud, although Real Madrid knelt there.

The franjirrojo team recovered those points lost last weekend with their third away victory, at José Zorrilla (0-1), to move to 26 and closer to the objective of permanence, although winning against Real Sociedad would provisionally placed in the European zone.

Andoni Iraola's men will also try to take advantage of not having played during the week to have that greater dose of energy and suffocate the visiting combinative game with their usual pressure, and then take advantage of the good moment that Isi Palazón and Sergio Camello are going through up front. The Usurbil coach could not change his eleven except with the entry of Óscar Trejo.

For their part, at the RCDE Stadium (4:15 p.m.) two teams with different objectives will face each other, such as RCD Espanyol, which intends to move away from the relegation zone as soon as possible, and Real Betis, aspiring to fight for the Champions League. .

Both come to the duel after suffering separate upsets in the Copa del Rey, much bigger on the side of the Verdiblanco team, which ended the title defense after losing on penalties against CA Osasuna, in a match that they almost had won. An elimination from eleven meters that joins the one suffered in the same way last week in the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona, ​​with the addition of extra wear and tear that he hopes will not take its toll against Diego Martínez's men.

Hurt by these two setbacks, Manuel Pellegrini's men, also with one game less, want to smile again at home, where they have had the most joy since in their last two league games, they have taken the three points from two difficult scenarios such as San Sebastian and Vallecas. In fact, their last defeat as a visitor dates back to the 1-0 conceded in Balaídos on October 2.

The Chilean coach returned to bet on sharing minutes against Osasuna, so the eleven that he will have against the blue and whites should have changes with the return of a Borja Iglesias, whose goals seem more than necessary, and Germán Pezzella, to replace the sanctioned Luis Felipe. The newcomer Abner already had minutes and could be another novelty in a team that will also have the loss of Nabil Fekir.

Espanyol, who said goodbye to the Cup in San Mamés, seems somewhat more animated after a hopeful start to 2023, without losing yet and where they have taken five of the eight points at stake, with a victory last weekend against a direct rival like Getafe (1-2).

However, the Catalan team is still penalized for its lack of wins. They have achieved three and only have 17 points, one from the relegation zone, so they need to start performing much better, especially at home since they have only been able to beat Valladolid in front of their fans.

Diego Martínez did not leave a good image in the Cup and sought the pass with a fairly recognizable eleven, although with a defense of five that it does not seem that he will repeat this time. The Galician coach will finally be able to count on the midfielder Sergi Darder.

Finally, at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium (9:00 p.m.) an Andalusian derby will be played with a lot at stake between two teams in the relegation zone such as Sevilla, penultimate in place, and Cádiz, third from last, separated by only one point and with the team from Cádiz angry after what happened against Elche.

Jorge Sampaoli's team still hasn't been able to get off the ground and a new defeat, against Girona, keeps them nervous about a danger that they can't get rid of and with which they seem to not know how to live in order to improve their performance.

The Sevilla team took a breather again in the Copa del Rey, with a long-suffering pass against Deportivo Alavés from LaLiga SmartBank, but they could not enjoy themselves too much to focus on taking this direct duel and adding their second consecutive victory in front of their fans, after the one achieved against Getafe, the first of the campaign.

Sampaoli will be out due to suspension of Marcos Acuña, so either his compatriot Gonzalo Montiel or Karim Rekic will play in the left lane of an eleven where the return of Óliver Torres is also expected and with the veteran Fernando Reges being able to play central. In addition, Lucas Ocampos could play again after his return.

For its part, Cádiz seeks a victory that has historically resisted it in the Nervión fiefdom, one in which it has yet to win and where it has lost 13 times between the League and the Cup. Last year it took a point after drawing to one.

The Cádiz team goes to the derby after their indignation in the 1-1 against Elche and the goal that would have prevented them from achieving three key points after an offside that was not detected by the VAR. Now, they will have to forget all that controversy to try to achieve another meritorious victory at home like the one achieved in their last outing at Mestalla.

Sergio González will lose center-back Fali, due to injury, and midfielder Fede San Emeterio, due to suspension, both starting in the previous game and who could be replaced by Momo and Iván Alejo, respectively.

Rayo Vallecano - Real Society. Matthew Lahoz (C. Valenciano)

Spanish - Betis. González Fuertes (C. Asturiano) 16.15.

Athletic - Valladolid. From Burgos Bengoetxea (C. Vasco) 18.30.

Seville - Cadiz. Hernández Hernández (C. Las Palmas) 21.00.