Granada CF vs Real Sociedad preview - Moyes calls for consistency

Real Sociedad coach David Moyes has called on his team to repeat their impressive performances against the top three teams in the Primera Division in every game.

The Basques saw off Barcelona last week at Anoeta to add to wins over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid earlier this season, but are only four points clear of the relegation zone.

Indeed, the only team Sociedad have beaten outside the top three is bottom side Elche.

After the euphoria of beating Barca, next up for Moyes' side is a trip to struggling Granada, who are second bottom of the table and without a league win since mid-September.

"We've got great results against Real, Atletico and Barcelona but we have to show it (the team's quality) in every game, the players have to show that, and the best teams beat the big teams and the small teams," Moyes told the club's official website.

"This was a problem before I came in here but we have to try and change it. We have made a good start to the year, we have beaten Barcelona and we are still in the Copa del Rey and now we want to start the second half of the season in good form."

In addition to facing the challenge of getting his players motivated for the smaller games, Moyes also spoke of the need to overcome the team's dire away form, with La Real unable to win away from Anoeta in league action in eight months.

"I think my team is capable of winning away from home but to do that we need to score goals and defend well," he said.

After the game with Granada, Sociedad have successive home La Liga games against Rayo Vallecano and Eibar, and Moyes believes these fixtures will be crucial to whether his side spends the rest of the season fighting for survival or competing further up the table.

He added: "The fixture list gives us a great opportunity to get away from the relegation zone, if we don't get good results from the next three games then we'll be fighting against relegation, but if we win them we'll move away from the bottom three.

"But it's easier to talk about it than to do it on the pitch, and it's up to the players to do that."

Moyes said he was hopeful that goalkeeper Geronimo Ruuli and striker Carlos Vela would recover from niggles they sustained in the win over Barca in order to face Granada, but confirmed Joseba Zaldua and David Zurutuza were out, and Carlos Martinez was doubtful. Meanwhile, midfielders Esteban Granero and Markel Bergara are both suspended.

Granada boss Joaquin Caparros, who will be missing five players through injury, is understandably eager to end their winless run, but knows it will not be easy against a Sociedad side he believes are much better than their league position suggests.

"There's still a lot of points to play for, but not winning tomorrow would be another blow. It's important to break the negative run and get into a positive dynamic," he told reporters.

He added of Sunday's opponents: "Real Sociedad have a new coach who is getting positive results. It's a team which has great quality, both individual and collective, and their position in the table does not reflect their quality."