FCBARCELONA.CAT

05.05.2007 10:26

Real Sociedad battling for survival

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These success stories seem a distant memory for the club's supporters now, however, as the team battle to retain their first division status for next term.

Miguel Ángel Lotina's team host FC Barcelona having seen something of an upturn in their fortunes. In their last five matches, la Real have won three games and are now only three points from leaping out of the drop zone. There is a renewed hope at the club, having spent the majority of the season looking as if they would go down. After winning against Gimnàstic on the 15th weekend of the campaign, the team then went eight games without tasting success to leave them in their current predicament.

Bolstering the squad

Real Sociedad were busy in the winter transfer window as the looked to bolster their squad to aid their plight. Lotina replaced José Mari Bakero earlier in the season and the new man at the helm helped bring in Brazilian forward Savio and the Argentinian duo, Víctor López and Germán Herrera. Savio is a verteran of the Spanish league having enjoyed spells with Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza in recent years. He was brought back to la Primera from Flamengo to help give experience to the side.

Jesuli also arrived as la Real snapped him up from Sevilla. The Andalucian playe, who has also previously played for Celta Vigo, was quick to began repaying the club's faith in him by putting in strong performances.

System changes

After changing their coach after seven league games this term, the team suffered somewhat while Lotina implemented the changes he wanted to make. Under Bakero a strict 4-4-2 system was employed, but now Real Sociedad field a back four, two defensive midfielders that play behind another line of three, leaving one striker to plough a lone furrow at the front.

Strong defence, not enough goals

This sold tactic has seen the side concede less goals, letting in only 38 all season, but has also made oscring them more difficult, given the lack of support to the lonesome forward. Real Sociedad have scored just 28 times in 32 games so far.

Despite this record, Barça cannot be complacent going into the match. Darko Kovacevic has returned to action and, even though he has only scored twice, is always a threat in the air. Morten Skoubo and Gari Uranga are both out.