Real Sociedad vs Villarreal preview - Martinez hopes for Real flourish

Real Sociedad defender Carlos Martinez has called on his team to finish the Primera Division season on a high by beating Villarreal, in the hope the Basques can achieve a fifth-placed finish.

La Real are a point behind Sevilla and if they want to finish among the league's top five teams they must win on Sunday and hope the newly-crowned Europa League champions fail to beat Elche.

Jagoba Arrasate's side sealed European qualification last month but are keen to avoid having to go through the play-offs in August in order to reach the group stage of the tournament. The worst-case scenario for La Real would be to lose to Villarreal and miss out on sixth due to an inferior head-to-head record with the Yellow Submarine.

Martinez explained that finishing fifth was also about personal pride and showing that his side are among the best in Spain outside of the top three clubs, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"There are three places that are always occupied, and we are fighting to finish second or third in the 'other' league," he told a press conference.

"Finishing fifth or sixth would be a great achievement. Finishing seventh would not be ideal, but overall it's been a very good season, whatever happens, because we haven't forgotten that it's been a long, hard and demanding year.

"Whatever happens, we have to remember this as a good year in a collective sense, but we want to give ourselves an even better ending."

The full-back also believes the omens are good for the final game of the season.

"We are playing at home, where we are usually strong, and we have to go out to win the game from the first minute," he added.

Real Sociedad's only injury concern is Alberto de la Bella, who is doubtful, but Villarreal will have numerous absentees, with Cani, Tomas Pina and Jeremy Perbet ruled out with injuries, and Oliver Torres and Jaume Costa also unlikely to make it.

Fifth place is out of Marcelino's side's reach, but captain Bruno Soriano stressed that merely qualifying for Europe in the club's first year back in the top flight was something to cherish.

"Getting into Europe today is a great achievement for this team," the midfielder told reporters.

"We know that we had to suffer in order to get back among the best teams and getting into Europe is very important for us."

Villarreal thrashed La Real 5-1 at El Madrigal back in January, and Giovani dos Santos hopes his side can do the double on the Basques.

"This weekend we really want to get the victory," he said.

"It would be fantastic to get sixth place and finish the season that way."