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Opposition lowdown: Real Sociedad
All you need to know about RCD Espanyol's next opponents
RCD Espanyol travel to the Basque Country for their next LaLiga match as they meet Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Real Sociedad sit mid-table after five games as well as participating in a European campaign, where they have two wins from two in the Europa League. They will be apt opposition for Espanyol, who themselves are unbeaten away from home this season.
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Name: Real Sociedad de Fútbol SAD
Nickname: Los Txuri-Urdin (The White and Blues)
Manager: Imanol Alguacil
Stadium: Reale Arena – 40,000 capacity
Last match: W 2-1 vs Omonia (Cyprus)
Last season: 6th
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Last meeting
Espanyol return to San Sebastián not long after their previous visit, having travelled over in April 2022 towards the end of last season.
A tight game at the Reale Arena ended in late heartbreak for the blanquiazules. Then-Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak converted a 96th-minute penalty, which saw the hosts emerge with a 1-0 win.
Key player
Not many LaLiga teams can boast having a player with the upmost grace and reputation in their ranks, but for Real Sociedad it comes in the form of David Silva.
At 36-years-old, he remains an important part of the squad featuring in all but one game this season. Silva spent a successful decade at Manchester City where he won every English major honour, and was part of the Spain squad that won the World Cup in 2010.
Club links
Javier Zubillaga spent his entire career with just two clubs: Espanyol and Real Sociedad. Despite that spanning just 10 years, he was involved in important periods of the history of both sides.
At Real Sociedad, he won the league in his first season and added a Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España. Zubillaga joined Espanyol in 1987 and helped the club reached the UEFA Cup Final of the following year, coming on as a substitute in the second leg.