Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid
When Real Madrid plays Real Sociedad on the road on Friday night to resume their domestic season, they hope to go 14 points clear at the top of the La Liga standings.
With six games remaining, Carlo Ancelotti's team leads the standings with 11 points over second-place Barcelona, while Real Sociedad is in sixth place, three points ahead of seventh-place Real Betis in the fight for Europa League football in 2024–25.
Match Preview
Real Sociedad is now sixth in the table, 10 points behind fourth-place Atletico Madrid. Although they finished fourth in La Liga the previous season, it is extremely doubtful that they will participate in the Champions League again the following year.
Instead, the Basque team is battling for a Europa League position; they are currently in sixth place, three points ahead of Real Betis in seventh. Currently, Imanol Alguacil's team will go to the 2024–25 Europa League group stage, although they still have eighteen points left to win this season.
Real Sociedad will enter this match on a five-game winning streak, which includes three La Liga victories; but, in their last two games, they were held to draws by Getafe and Almeria.
In reality, Alguacil's team has only won six of its fifteen home league games this season, shedding points in the other nine, which included three losses. In the 2023–24 campaign, they will be hosting Real Madrid, who owns the best away record in Spain's top flight.
The fact that Real Sociedad defeated Real Madrid 2-0 in their previous meeting at the Bernabeu this season, despite the fact that the two clubs met in the same fixture last year, should give them confidence going into this encounter.
With a record of 25 victories, 6 draws, and 1 loss from 32 games, Real Madrid leads the competition with 81 points this season and has been by far the strongest team in La Liga.
Jude Bellingham scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time of the second half to give Ancelotti's team a 3-2 victory against Barcelona in the El Clasico last weekend. With six games remaining, Los Blancos now sit 11 points clear of Barcelona in second place.
Real Madrid will win the championship this season, and it will be well-deserved given that they had the best season, scoring the most goals (70) and giving up the fewest (22).
The capital giants are vying for two more titles this season after they have eliminated the reigning champions, Manchester City, in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Because of Real Madrid's good standing in the standings, Ancelotti will be able to rest a few key players when they travel to Bayern Munich for the first leg of their semifinal next week.
Los Blancos will enter this game on a five-game winning streak in La Liga, which included a 1-0 victory against Mallorca in their most recent away game. However, as previously indicated, they lost by two goals to Real Sociedad in the equivalent matchup during the 2022–2023 season.
Team News
Two players that Real Sociedad will most likely be missing on Friday are Brais Mendez and Hamari Traore, both of whom have injuries.
Carlos Fernandez, Aihen Munoz, and Martin Merquelanz are also question marks, but the return of Igor Zubeldia and Martin Zubimendi from suspension will strengthen the Basque team's lineup.
After Traore suffered an injury against Getafe, Alvaro Odriozola is expected to start in his place. Takefusa Kubo may also be added in the last third of the field, while Sheraldo Becker may be benched for the matchup with the division leaders.
Due to a minor muscle ailment, Ferland Mendy will also be missing; nevertheless, the Frenchman should be well enough to play with Jude Bellingham, who is sidelined on Friday night due to illness, in Bayern's Champions League semi-final first leg the following week.
For this game, Ancelotti plans to rest a number of key players; Nacho, Fran Garcia, Luka Modric, Brahim Diaz, and Joselu are all expected to start.
Aside from Eder Militao, who might start against Bayern next week, other players like Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger, and Rodrygo might not play from the opening whistle on Friday night.
Possible starting lineup:
Real Sociedad
Remiro; Odriozola, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Galan; Benat, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Real Madrid
Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, F Garcia; Modric, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Diaz; Vinicius, Joselu