Tonight’s match between Real Sociedad and Villarreal will close the 19th round of the Spanish La Liga. However, a lot attention was drawn by the statement of Imanol Alguacil, who, at the press conference, had more words about his team’s schedule than about the match itself.🧐 What are your match 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 tonight? #RealSociedadVillarreal pic.twitter.com/8p6lTOIWIE— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) January 13, 2025 Concern is a mild word for what Alguacil feels, as he believes the league’s management is deaf to the cries of Real Sociedad, who have been playing tough European matches for the fifth consecutive season.’Neither as a coach nor as a fan can I understand this. To have this kind of schedule at this time of the season? We’ve been in Europe for five years, it’s impossible what is being done. There’s no way to control all of this. It is what it is, we have to face it. If we progress further in the Copa del Rey, we will have a stretch of 17 matches. So, 17 to 19 matches every three days, that’s absolute madness, but we have to get through it,’ says Alguacil.##NAJAVA_MECA_8625165##In a somewhat humorous way, the coach of the Yellow Submarine, Marcelino García Toral, agreed with his colleague, stating that he shares the opinion that Real Sociedad’s schedule is disastrous.”There is no logic in it. I don’t know if someone pressed the wrong button on the keyboard or something else. It’s illogical for them to play on Monday and then travel to Rayo Vallecano on Friday. I know it’s not easy to resolve these things, but it shouldn’t be like this,” added the Villarreal coach.Anyway, this is the first of seven matches that Real Sociedad will play by the end of the month, and a victory would bring the club closer to the fight for Europe. The same goes for Villarreal, who with a victory would join the fight for the Champions League.LA LIGA – ROUND 19FridayRayo Vallecano – Celta 2-1 (1-1)/Embarba 5, De Frutos 63 – Iglesias 26/SaturdayAlaves – Girona 0-1 (0-0)/Solis 90+1/Valladolid – Betis 1-0 (0-0)/Perez K. 58/Espanyol – Leganes 1-1 (1-1)/Cabrera 2 – Cisse 14/Sevilla – Valencia 1-1 (0-0)/Pedrosa 90+3 – Rioja 61/SundayLas Palmas – Getafe 1-2 (0-0)/Januzaj 88 – Costa 70, Mayoral 86/Atletico Madrid – Osasuna 1-0 (0-0)/Alvarez 55/Monday23:00: (1.97) Sociedad (3.45) Villareal (3.90)***odds are subject to change***
