Real Madrid will be looking to move up to the top of La Liga with a win against Real Sociedad, as leaders Barcelona won’t be in action until Monday evening. A win here for Alvaro Arbeloa’s team could put a significant amount of pressure on Hansi Flick’s men.
The home team are second on the table with 57 points in their 23 matches, thanks to 18 wins, three draws and two defeats. Los Blancos are a point behind leaders Barcelona, and they will be hoping to keep the pressure on with another win here.
The Merengues have won their last seven league games, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of an easy 2-0 win over Valencia. While it was not their best performance, they did get the job done, and Arbeloa will be hoping they can once again end up on the right side of the result.
Meanwhile, the visitors are eighth on the table with 31 points in their 23 outings, thanks to eight wins, seven draws and eight defeats. Real Sociedad have not lost any of their last seven league outings. They have won four out of their last five and will certainly be confident about putting up a fight against Los Blancos.
The Basque outfit are heading into this fixture on the back of an important 1-0 win over Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg. Given the kind of run they have been in across competitions, the visitors will certainly fancy their chances. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Real Madrid will be without the services of Jude Bellingham (hamstring) and Eder Militao (hamstring) for this fixture against Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, Ferland Mendy (hamstring), Raul Asencio (illness) and Rodrygo (muscle) will all be assessed ahead of kick-off.
Kylian Mbappe missed training on Thursday because of some discomfort in his knee, and he remains a major doubt for this fixture. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior is back after serving a suspension last weekend.
The team in white will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras will feature as the full-backs, while Raul Asencio should partner Dean Huijsen in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Aurelien Tchouameni will feature in the number six role, while Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga will be in his support in the centre of the park. The trio will look to control the tempo and ensure they dominate the proceedings.
Brahim Diaz and Vinicius Junior should feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Finally, Kylian Mbappe will lead the line for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad. But if he is not a hundred per cent, Gonzalo Garcia could get the nod.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Brahim, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
The visitors will be without the services of Takefusa Kubo (hamstring), Unai Marrero (face), and Brais Mendez (suspended) for this fixture. Arsen Zakharyan (calf), Ander Barrenetxea (muscle), and Luka Sucic (groin) will all undergo a late fitness test and could end up missing out as well.
Real Sociedad will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Alex Remiro will be in goal. Alvaro Odriozola and Sergio Gomez will feature as the full-backs, while Duje Caleta-Car will partner with Jon Martin in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Jon Gorrotxategi and Benat Turrientes will form the double pivot in the middle of the pitch. They will look to shield the backline and ensure the Real Madrid midfielders do not run the show.
Pablo Marin and Goncalo Guedes will feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks. Carlos Soler will take up the number ten role, while Mikel Oyarzabal will spearhead the Real Sociedad attack against Real Madrid on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Remiro; Odriozola, Martin, Caleta-Car, Gomez; Gorrotxategi, Turrientes; Marin, Soler, Guedes; Oyarzabal
Despite not being at his best this season, Vinicius Junior remains one of Real Madrid’s most decisive attacking threats and will be the player to watch against Real Sociedad. Eight goals and 11 assists in 33 outings underline his continued influence, even in a campaign where his standards have dipped by his own lofty measure.
The Brazilian international comes into this clash fresh after serving a suspension for accumulated yellow cards versus Valencia. Rested, motivated, and eager to add to his tally, Vinicius Junior’s direct running, unpredictability, and ability to turn tight games on their head make him Real Madrid’s biggest X-factor heading into the contest.
Real Madrid will back themselves to make home advantage count as they look to extend their winning run and briefly move to the top of the table. With momentum firmly on their side, Los Blancos should control large spells of the game through midfield and look to stretch Real Sociedad with pace and directness in the final third.
That said, Real Sociedad arrive in a confident mood after an impressive unbeaten run and are unlikely to make things easy. They should remain competitive and organised, but Real Madrid’s superior quality and depth could prove decisive in the latter stages. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the home team.
