Rayo Vallecano vs Real Sociedad preview - Rayo Vallecano v Real Sociedad

Posted Saturday, October 05, 2013 by PA

Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez believes his team should approach their game with Real Sociedad in the same way as their match at Valencia, even though it ended in defeat.

The Madrid side dominated possession at the Mestalla and had three times the amount of shots as the hosts, but conceded a second-half goal when carelessness from Saul Niguez allowed Jonas to score.

The defeat was Rayo's sixth consecutive loss and they remain bottom of the Primera Division table.

However, speaking at a press conference ahead of the visit of Real Sociedad, Jemez said: "We made a good impression in Valencia, we keep improving as a team and I was satisfied with our performance the other day, despite the result. We need to keep playing the same way, because that's the only way we're going to win games.

"We cannot allow ourselves to become anxious, we have to start to turn the situation around and put ourselves in a more comfortable position."

And he encouraged his team to keep dominating possession in games.

"We have to try to beat the opposition in every aspect, and as soon as we start improving in small areas which are costing us dear, we will be able to compete with anyone," he said.

Midfielder Seba Fernandez has been ruled out of action for more than six months after damaging knee ligaments against Real Sociedad and requires surgery.

He is the second Rayo player to have suffered a serious injury this season, after forward Jose Carlos also damaged ligaments, in the first game of the campaign.

Jonathan Viera and Alejandro Galvez return to the squad after serving one-game suspensions for being sent off against Sevilla, but Jemez said he would leave them out of the starting line-up, as a punishment for their actions.

"I believe that right now other players have to play because we cannot afford to make mistakes like the ones they made. Like Lass [sent off against Levante] they will receive a fine, but I think it would be a lack of respect to the rest of the players if I chose them."

Like Rayo, Real Sociedad have not won in the league since the opening day of the season.

Jagoba Arrasate's side head to Vallecas after an agonising 2-1 defeat in injury time at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

They are still without midfielders Dani Estrada and Xabi Prieto, while defender Mikel Gonzalez has been left out of the squad so he can attend the birth of his son.