Espanyol - Real Sociedad H2H √ √ Head to head ≻ fscore.net
Spreading the play wide will suit the hosts as they pack the central areas to make life a lot more difficult for the likes of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi. Javi Lopez, Enzo Roco and Alvaro Gonzalez have all performed admirably for the most part this season, but if there is a weak link at the back, it's down Espanyol's left side. Ruben Duarte struggled against Lionel Messi for long periods in the same fixture last season. Manu Fernandez/Associated PressRuben Duarte struggled against Messi last year, and although the Argentinian is still finding his way back to full fitness, he'll give the defender the runaround again if Duarte isn't at the races here. Young Pau in goal is tasked with keeping a clean sheet against the most devastating front three in the league, and it's a brave call to continue giving the 21-year-old his wings.
If they are going to lose the game, at least the hosts can go down fighting. Not that there will be any thoughts of simply handing three points on a plate to their nearest rivals. The double pivot of Pape Diop and ex-Barca man Victor Sanchez is crucial to what happens at both ends of the pitch. Sanchez in particular likes to put himself about, but an early transgression will stifle his ability to break up play. He is also the one to break out from a more defensive role and support the front four, something he tends to do consistently and effectively. If either player can impose his game on the visitors and disrupt the efforts of Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic in the process, it leaves Jordi Alba and Dani Alves as the main providers of balls into the box or direct to feet.
Form and head to head stats Espanyol vs Sociedad - Sky Sports