Real Sociedad, after a slow start to the season, has been making significant progress in both domestic and European competitions.
In the Europa League, they initially struggled with a 1-1 draw against Nice and a 1-2 loss to Anderlecht. However, they bounced back with two wins in their next three games, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-2, Viktoria Plzen 2-1, and most recently Ajax Amsterdam.
These results have moved them up to 16th place, just three points shy of the top eight. In La Liga, they’ve been performing well, winning three of their last four matches, including victories over Sevilla (0-2), Barcelona (1-0), and Bilbao (1-0), along with a 2-0 win over Betis. They will next face Leganes on the road.
Dynamo Kyiv, in contrast, has had a difficult campaign in the Europa League, failing to win any of their group-stage matches. They suffered defeats to Lazio (0-3), Hoffenheim (2-0), Roma (1-0), Ferencvaros (0-4), and Viktoria Plzen (1-2), leaving them at the bottom of the standings with little hope of advancing.
However, domestically, they are performing much better, currently leading the Ukrainian league despite two recent draws with Kolos Kovalivka (1-1) and Oleksandria (0-0). They will meet Oleksandria again next weekend.
Dynamo Kyiv will likely be missing several important players for their upcoming match in San Sebastián, including Colombian defender Bryan Ceballos, midfielder Pikhalionok (who has scored two league goals), and long-term absentee Shepeliev.
Croatian midfielder Sucic, who was ill recently, is expected to be available, as is former Rennes defender Aguerd. Other players unavailable include Amari Traoré, Zakharyan, Elustondo, and Icelandic international Oskarksson. Sociedad will look to their captain Mikel Oyarzabal, who has netted three goals in La Liga, and Japanese winger Kubo, who scored his first Europa League goal in the last match.
Dynamo Kyiv will also be missing key player Yarmolenko, who has three goals, but midfielder Kabaiev, the only player to have scored in the Europa League for them this season, could feature alongside Ukrainian international Shaparenko (three goals) and striker Vanat (seven goals). Defender Dubinchak will return from suspension.
Prediction
Real Sociedad is in good form and should secure a win, particularly with their strong home record, having won 10 of their last 13 La Liga home games. On the other hand, Dynamo Kyiv’s poor away form, with only two wins from their last 13 matches, makes it unlikely they will cause an upset.
Prediction: Real Sociedad 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv
