Elche vs Real Sociedad preview - Sociedad focused on Elche clash

Posted Saturday, August 24, 2013 by PA

Real Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate insists his team will be fully focused when they face Elche at the Martinez Valero stadium.

The Basque club won 2-0 at Lyon in the first leg of a Champions League play-off to take a huge step towards qualifying for the group stages of Europe's elite competition, just four days after getting their league campaign off to a strong start with a 2-0 win over Getafe.

However, Arrasate assured reporters his players were not getting carried away.

"The players know the most important thing is the league, and since we got on the plane to return home, they've all been thinking about the game with Elche," he said in El Diario Vasco.

"If we don't approach the game with the same attitude and energy as in our last two games, we won't be able to win it."

The coach explained that full-back Carlos Martinez and forward Antoine Griezmann, who picked up injuries during the Lyon game, would not be available to face Elche, but revealed centre-back Inigo Martinez had recovered from a knock received in the match.

Elche coach Fran Escriba said his side were working extra hard ahead of the game to compensate for a 3-0 defeat suffered at the hands of Rayo Vallecano in the first game of the campaign.

He told reporters: "We're going to try and play the best game possible. We have analysed what we did badly against Rayo and discussed the positive aspects too.

"We won't deny it was a bad game for us but the players have worked very well this week to go and get a good result."

Escriba acknowledged that Assarate's side would be tough opponents, but hopes his players can use the fact the Basques have played an extra game to their advantage.

"They have started the season on a very good note," he added. "The change in coach has worked well for them, because he has added his ideas to what was a very good team from last year.

"They are a difficult side but we'll try give them a game.

"We'll try to take advantage of the fact that they could arrive here a little more tired than us, but even so, they will be very focused when they come here."