Valencia Club de Fútbol urgently need a win this Sunday at Mestalla against Real Sociedad to break a poor run of form. The team, sitting 19th in the table with just four points, has managed only one win and four defeats in its last five league matches. The team has set a goal of scoring within the first 15 minutes of this match, having found the net only twice all season. Their next fixture after this is a trip to face Celta Vigo.

The Valencian side's last victory came on Tuesday away at Alavés with a 0-1 scoreline, thanks to a goal from Luis Rioja. However, that win does not erase the immediate prior setbacks: a 5-0 defeat to Barcelona at Mestalla and losses against Sevilla, Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis. Their goal difference this season is a concern, with only two scored and ten conceded.

The coaching staff is expected to repeat the starting eleven that secured the win at Mendizorrotza, with S. Dimitrievski in goal and Hugo Duro leading the attack. The squad faces this match with several significant absences, including S. Canós, J. Cópet, M. Diakhaby and U. Sadiq, whose injuries limit the options from the bench.

The visitors arrive in inconsistent form themselves, currently in 12th place. They are coming off home defeats to Bournemouth and Atlético Madrid, though they did secure a win at Elche before that. Real Sociedad's manager will be without Álvaro Odriozola due to a cruciate ligament injury and Igor Zubeldia with a muscle problem.

The last meeting between the two sides, in May, was a goal fest that ended in a 3-4 Valencia victory at the Reale Arena. A similar result would provide vital breathing space for a Valencia side looking at a fourteen-point gap to the league leaders. The match is a key opportunity to take three points and start climbing the standings. The game kicks off this Sunday, 20 September, at 21:00 local time at the Mestalla stadium.

Valencia lost 2-3 to Real Sociedad at Mestalla on September 20, according to verified data. The Valencia manager confirmed the starting lineup from the win against Alavés, but the team could not hold onto the lead. Carlos Soler, a former Valencia player, scored a penalty for Real Sociedad and apologized after scoring, according to the player himself. The result leaves the team in 19th place with four points.