Sociedad out to bounce back against Madrid

Real Sociedad will have to recover quickly from the news that their coach Philippe Montanier will leave to join Rennes at the end of the season as they face Real Madrid in a crucial match in their quest to claim the fourth and final Champions League place from La Liga. Montanier has decided to bring his time in San Sebastian to an end after two seasons despite the guarantee of European football next season, with his side currently ahead of Valencia thanks to a better head-to-head record with just two games to go. However, striker Imanol Agirretxe believes they are capable of putting the Frenchman's decision to the back of their minds and concentrating on Sunday's game. "The dressing room is calm, we are in a very important moment. The coach is conscious of just how important it is and he has asked us to be calm," he said on Thursday. "Right now we are concentrating on the game against Real Madrid with great desire and excitement. "It will be the last game at Anoeta this season. We are playing for a lot and, moreover, against Real Madrid so I think the excitement for this game is above any personal situation we have as a manager or a player." Madrid are also adjusting to the news that they will have a managerial change at the end of the season after it was officially confirmed on Monday that Jose Mourinho will depart the Spanish capital come the end of the campaign. Already guaranteed to finish second, Madrid having nothing to play for, but Agirretxe is not buying talk that they will be demotivated. "They are not playing for anything, but at the end of the day they know how to play very well. Real Madrid are Real Madrid, I have never seen them relaxed or taking a game easy and in this sense it will be a very difficult game." Mourinho will at least be able to manage his penultimate game in charge from the technical area as his two-game ban for being sent-off during Real's defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final last Friday only applies to domestic cup fixtures. Cristiano Ronaldo is also free to play as he too received a two-game cup ban for his red card against Atleti, but their opponents will be without their top-scorer Carlos Vela due to suspension. Meanwhile, champions Barcelona continue their quest to match Madrid's record tally of 100 points from last season when they visit Espanyol in the Catalan derby. The rivalry between the two sets of fans has already been demonstrated in the build-up to the game with Espanyol supporters saying they will turn their backs when their own players salute Barca with a guard of honour as they enter the pitch. Elsewhere, Valencia go in search of their fourth win in a row to keep the pressure on Real Sociedad when they host Granada, who are not yet mathematically safe, at the Mestalla. With all 10 games taking place at the same time on Sunday night, the first victims of relegation could also be confirmed as Celta Vigo need to win at Valladolid to have any chance of saving themselves. Mallorca will also be relegated if they fail to avoid defeat at Copa del Rey winners Atletico and, even if they do so, the Islanders will still go down should Deportivo match their result away to Malaga. And there will be an emotional farewell to Athletic Bilbao's San Mames stadium as, after 100 years, it hosts its final competitive game when Los Leones host Levante. Fixtures Sunday (all kick-offs 1800 GMT) Getafe v Rayo Vallecano, Valencia v Granada, Osasuna v Sevilla, Real Sociedad v Real Madrid, Malaga v Deportivo la Coruna, Espanyol v Barcelona, Valladolid v Celta Vigo, Atletico Madrid v Mallorca, Real Betis v Real Zaragoza, Athletic Bilbao v Levante From : AFP