Next Monday, 20th of October 2014, an unrecognizable Real Sociedad will measure forces with an always unpredictable Getafe at Anoeta for round eight of the Spanish Liga BBVA, a match that the Basque team desperately needs to win in order to put an end to their nightmarish new La Liga campaign.

The physically demands of last campaign seem to have left some irreparable damage in Real Sociedad as they are still struggling to find their best in the 2014-15 La Liga edition. Jagoba Arrasate’s boys have only won one league match so far this season, precisely against the current European champions, Real Madrid, at Anoeta, but such win wasn’t enough to motivate the players, who appear to have given up after five consecutive matches without a single win.

Arrasate’s future at Real Sociedad might be hanging by a thread and after last round’s defeat against Espanyol, the media are suggesting that a bad result against Getafe next Monday might precipitate the exit of the Berriatua’s born manager.

The Basque team was completely tamed by a mighty Espanyol that was also looking for some peace of mind after their bumpy start this season and Real Sociedad never seemed able to disturb the Catalan team for large periods of the match. Arrasate’s 4-2-3-1 system is already giving some evident signs of fatigue and this is probably a good time to return to the more ambitious 4-4-1-1 system the team sometimes displayed last season, with Vela running free behind the lone ranger, Agirretxe.

For the match against Getafe, Arrasate will probably still not able to rely on the contribution of Elustondo, Rulli and Bella, all currently sidelined due to injury.

As for Getafe, the Madrid team is also having a difficult start at La Liga this season with already four defeats in seven matches. Cosmin Contra’s boys somehow managed to revert that negative streak and have been undefeated for their last two matches. After defeating Málaga at home, Los Azulones conceded a home draw against Córdoba and they might consider themselves lucky, as they only snatched the equalizer two minutes from time when Babá, who is currently on loan from Sevilla, finished a perfect cross from Escudero.

For the match against Real Sociedad, Getafe’s Romanian manager, Cosmin Contra, will not be able to count on the Spanish forward Álvaro Vázquez, who is currently still recovering from his injury.

Real Sociedad appear to be twice as strong when playing at home and, for that reason, they have to be considered favourites for the upcoming match against Getafe.

Real Sociedad

Stats: W-0 L-3 D-2

Recent Form - LDLLD

Getafe

Stats: W-1 L-3 D-1

Recent Form - DWLLL

Possible Line-ups

Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1) - Zubikarai - C. Martínez - González - I. Martínez - Gaztañaga - Granero - Zurutuza - Canales - X. Prieto - Carlos Vela - Agirretxe

Getafe (4-2-3-1) - Guaita - Naldo - Escudero - Valera - Velázquez- Lacen - Míchel -  Sammir - Sarabia - Lafita - Babá

Prediction

Real Sociedad 2 Getafe 1