Real Sociedad vs Getafe preview - Llorente up for the fight

Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 by PA

Real Sociedad striker Joseba Llorente is confident his side will get the result they need against Getafe when the teams go head to head at the Anoeta both looking to secure their Primera Division lives.

With six teams still at risk of relegation on the final day of the season, the San Sebastian encounter will be one of the stand-out fixtures in Spain this weekend.

Fourteenth-placed Sociedad are in the box seat as they lie a point ahead of the visitors and know a draw will see them safe.

Getafe's away form is another cause for confidence on the part of the Basques. The Madrid side have lost their last six games on the road and have not won in their last 10 away games.

However, Getafe will also stay up as long as both Deportivo La Coruna and Real Zaragoza do not better their result.

Llorente is convinced his team will do the necessary.

"We cannot go down to the Segunda," he told Marca. "We have to fight and bring out the pride in our fans, for all those who have queued for tickets, for all those who haven't been able to sleep this week."

The return of Llorente, who has been out injured since December with a herniated disc, could prove a big boost for the hosts, who also have Raul Tamudo available after suspension.

Sociedad captain Mikel Aranburu believes playing at home will be a big advantage for his side.

He told the club's website: "This year we have won a lot more points at the Anoeta than away from home and right now we would rather be playing at the Anoeta with a full stadium and a pumped-up support.

"We have to make the most of this opportunity. We cannot afford not to."

Hopes are also high in the Getafe camp, with striker Miku stressing that they still control their own fate.

"We have to, as we say in Venezuela, be brave, to go out on to the field like men and, on top of that, enjoy it and play our football intelligently," he said.

"We can only depend on ourselves. We don't need to look at anybody else or depend on anybody else."

On Getafe's miserable away form since the turn of the year, he told the club's website: "Statistics are there to be broken.

"We have spoken about how we have already achieved many rare things. What we have to do now is win away from home in the final match to stay up."

Getafe boss Michel will be forced to make a change in attack from Sunday's 2-0 win over Osasuna with Adrian Colunga set to miss out through injury. Colunga has not trained all week due to a hamstring injury and joins Miguel Torres, Rafael Lopez and Jaime Gavilan on the sidelines.