Real Sociedad will look to strengthen their position in the top four when they square up against second-placed Real Madrid.
Real Madrid will hit the road to square up against Real Sociedad on Tuesday. The home team are currently fourth in the league and will be eager to strengthen their position with a win as they look to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Meanwhile, the visitors will look to make it back-to-back wins in the league after a clinical performance last time out.
The hosts are currently in fourth place in the league table, five points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal. They are in a strong position to secure a Champions League spot for next season, which would be their first top-four finish in the league for a decade. The home team have had a solid run of form, picking up seven points from their last three league matches.
Real Sociedad are heading into this fixture on the back of a 2-0 win over Osasuna. And, they will be looking to build on that when they host Los Blancos. Real Madrid, on the other hand, are no longer in contention for the title this season. They sit in second place in the league table, 11 points behind league leaders Barcelona. So they are currently battling with Atletico Madrid for second place.
However, their focus is on the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, with two crucial fixtures coming up in the next week. They will face Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final before playing Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are heading into this fixture on the back of a 4-2 win over Almeria. A Karim Benzema masterclass was the difference between the two teams as the Frenchman bagged another hat-trick.
Real Madrid and Real Sociedad drew 0-0 in the reverse league fixture at Bernabeu in January. However, Los Blancos have not lost to Real Sociedad in the Spanish top flight since May 2019. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics they could use in this fixture.
Team News & Tactics
Real Sociedad
Imanol Alguacil will again be without the services of Sadiq Umar and Martin Merquelanz for this fixture against Real Madrid. But Real Sociedad do have a boost as Diego Rico is back in the squad.
📋 Squad list for tomorrow’s match. AUPA REAL!!!#RealSociedadRealMadrid | #AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/pbsTZwi7qs
— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) May 1, 2023
Real Sociedad are likely to start with the 4-3-3 formation, where Alex Remiro will be in goal. Aritz Elustondo and Aihen Munoz should start as the full-backs. The duo will have to support the centre-backs as they look to hold off a start-studded Real Madrid attack. Igor Zubeldia and Robin Le Normand will pair up in the heart of the defence.
Martin Zubimendi will start as the defensive midfielder. He will look to shield the centre-backs. Zubimendi will have the support of Brais Mendez and Mikel Merino in the centre of the park. Former Real Madrid star Takefusa Kubo could start in attack. The 21-year-old should start on the right wing while Mikel Oyarzabal should start on the left. And, Alexander Sorloth should start as the leader of the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Munoz; Merino, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Sorloth, Oyarzabal
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti will be without the services of Ferland Mendy, David Alaba and Luka Modric. Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga will also be unavailable for this fixture as they have been suspended following their booking last time out.
🎙️ @MrAncelotti: "We're going to San Sebastian to put in a good performance."#RealSociedadRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/ufEPDZLR0p
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 1, 2023
The Italian manager is expected to start with the 4-3-3 formation but is likely to rotate his players ahead of the Copa del Rey final. Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Dani Carvajal should pair up with Nacho as the full-backs for this fixture. Meanwhile, Eder Militao should pair up with Antonio Rudiger as the two centre-backs.
Toni Kroos could be rested for this fixture. Meanwhile, Federico Valverde, Dani Ceballos and Aurélien Tchouameni should be the midfield three. Tchouameni will be the shield in front of the defence, while the duo of Ceballos and Valverde will look to join the attack when there is an opportunity.
Marco Asensio, who might soon sign a new Real Madrid contract, should start on the right while in the absence of Vinicius. Meanwhile, Rodrygo Goes should be on the left flank. And, La Liga’s second-highest goalscorer Karim Benzema should be leading the lines for Los Blancos.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Asensio, Benzema, Rodrygo
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have a strong recent record against Real Sociedad, winning 21 out of their last 31 encounters.
- Los Blancos have won three of their last five La Liga games, but have suffered defeats against Villarreal and Girona.
- Real Sociedad has been unbeaten in their last three La Liga matches and conceded only one goal during this period.
- Karim Benzema has scored 17 goals for Real Madrid in La Liga this season, trailing Robert Lewandowski by just two goals in the Pichichi trophy race.
- Carlo Ancelotti’s men are the highest-scoring team in La Liga this season, having scored 69 goals in 32 league games so far.
Player to Watch
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema has been in tremendous form for Real Madrid this season and is currently in the race for the Pichichi trophy. With 17 goals and three assists in just 21 La Liga matches this season, he is a player that Real Sociedad’s defence will have to keep a close eye on.
Furthermore, Benzema comes into this game on the back of a hat-trick against Almeria in the previous game, which will only boost his confidence heading into the fixture. And, Ancelotti will hope the Frenchman once gets the job done for his team.
Prediction
Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid
It promises to be a closely contested encounter, with both teams boasting strong attacking lineups and impressive defensive records. The home team will be looking to build on their recent form and secure a positive result against a tough opposition.
However, Real Madrid are likely to be the favourites to win this match, given their superior experience and quality in key areas of the field. The visitors’ attack, led by the in-form Karim Benzema, is likely to pose a significant threat to Real Sociedad’s defence. The Hard Tackle predicts an evenly contested fixture where the visitors could come out on top with the scoreline 2-1.
