The starting XI causing a stir in San Sebastian

The good times are flowing in San Sebastian. Following the topsy-turvydom of their opening games, featuring a medley of meritorious victories and more lugubrious performances, Eusebio's charges have hit their stride and look unstoppable of late. They have strung together four wins on the trot in LaLiga Santander, something only Real Madrid have matched.

We have to go all the way back to the 2002/03 season to find such a sizzling start by the Basque side. The fans will surely still recall that campaign, when they remained in the thick of the title fight until the very last matchday thanks to Darko Kovacevic, Nihat Kahveci, Javier de Pedro and co. Currently, only Real Madrid (nine) and Barcelona (eight) can boast having won more matches than Real Sociedad in LaLiga Santander, with Sevilla also having won seven.

Real Sociedad 2002/03 after 12 games played: 26 points (W7-D5-L0)

Real Sociedad 2016/17 after 12 games played: 22 points (W7-D1-L4)

Back then any La Real fan knew exactly who was going to make the team sheet, and this season it looks like they will need to commit to memory the XI that Eusebio has plumped for in the last six league games – whenever they have all been available – and which he also fielded on Matchday 5 against Las Palmas to notch up their first home victory.

With this group of players out on the pitch, they have produced six wins and suffered just one defeat, netting 17 goals and conceding just five in the process, meaning we are more than likely to continue seeing the Txuri-Urdines deploying the following posse:
 

                

Here we bring you four interesting observations about Eusebio Sacristan's regular starting XI:

1. Notably, there are eight Spanish players in the side: Iñigo Martinez, Yuri Berchiche, Asier Illarramendi, Xabi Prieto, Mikel Oyarzabal, David Zurutuza, Raul Navas and Carlos Martinez, the first five of whom are also from the Basque Country. If we look at the language situation, the full contingent of team members speak Spanish. All of these factors favour excellent harmony and communication between the players.
   
   
2. Oyarzabal and Carlos Vela start out on opposite flanks on their "weaker" feet, continually getting involved in the build-up play and making diagonal runs into central areas to link up with the midfielders. The full-backs, Carlos Martinez and Yuri, play on their "strong" sides, bringing width and depth to the attack.
   
   
3. The central triangle composed of Illarramendi, Zurutuza and Prieto combines players adept at going forward with the ball and penetrating the area, but who are also prepared to regain possession, as evidenced by the following: Zurutuza (97) and Illarramendi (92) are the two players who have won back the most balls in LaLiga Santander.
   
   
4. All of the starters stand over 1.8 m tall, except for Vela and Illarramendi, giving the team a significant leg up in the game's natural aerial battles and from set pieces.

Eusebio has already managed to equal his best run with Real Sociedad, which he produced last season when they won all of their games between Matchdays 22 and 25. If they can overcome Barcelona on Sunday at Anoeta, they will match the feat achieved by Jagoba Arrasate in 2014, when La Real managed five successive victories.

Considering that they have managed to defeat Barcelona on their last four visits to San Sebastian, who could possibly miss out on this match?