Real Sociedad vs Villarreal preview - Zurutuza looking for home strength

Posted Friday, April 24, 2015 by PA

Real Sociedad midfielder David Zurutuza is backing his side to beat Villarreal on Saturday, despite the Basque side's recent hapless run.

La Real have not won a game since returning from the international break at the start of April, drawing with Malaga and Deportivo, and losing at Atletico Madrid and Elche.

However, the Yellow Submarine posted an even worse run of form than David Moyes' men, last winning a match on March 8, and Zurutuza believes his side's strong home record - they have won eight, drawn four and lost four at Anoeta - will help them overcome their visitors.

"Villarreal are not in the best form at the moment and we are strong at home," the midfielder told the club's official website.

"We want to give everything we have in front of our own fans and it should be an attractive game."

Saturday's game is the fourth meeting between the two sides this season.

Defender Alberto de la Bella admitted La Real will be looking for revenge after Villarreal beat them 4-0 at El Madrigal in November, knocked them out of the Copa del Rey and also pipped them to sixth place in the league last season.

"They have walked all over us recently, so we have to try and get our revenge on them and try to impose ourselves on the game," the left-back told a press conference.

Although the Basques, on 38 points, are in little danger of slipping into the relegation battle and have little hope of challenging for European football, they have an incentive of trying to avoid their worst points total since returning to the top flight in 2010. To do so, they need to pick up at least eight points from their remaining six games.

Centre-back Inigo Martinez is out of the game with a hamstring injury and full-back Joseba Zaldua is suspended. Villarreal meanwhile have fresh injury concerns as forwards Denis Cheryshev and Giovani dos Santos suffered muscle strains in the 0-0 draw with Cordoba on Sunday, and defender Eric Bailly is suspended for the trip to San Sebastian.

Villarreal squandered a series of goalscoring chances against Cordoba and defender Victor Ruiz believes this has been his side's main problem in recent weeks.

"Perhaps we are lacking composure in front of goal, something we have been so good at for most of the season," he told a press conference.

"We are having a good season, but perhaps the injuries we've suffered are preventing us from finishing it well, but we can turn it around, and the sooner we do that, the better."