Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive victories in La Liga when they continue their domestic campaign away to top-four hopefuls Real Sociedad on Tuesday night.
The visitors remain second in the table, 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, while Real Sociedad are currently in charge of fourth, sitting eight points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal.
Since losing the Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao on April 15, Real Sociedad have picked up seven points from three league matches, beating Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna, in addition to drawing with Real Betis.
Imanol Alguacil’s side were 2-0 winners over Osasuna on Friday, with an own goal from Sergio Herrera sending the visitors ahead, before Takefusa Kubo registered their second in the latter stages of the contest.
Real Sociedad are currently fourth in the table, eight points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal, although the Yellow Submarine will have the chance to close the gap to five points ahead of this match.
The White and Blues are in pole position to secure a Champions League spot for next season, and it would be their first top-four finish in Spain’s top flight for 10 years.
Alguacil’s side, who have been sixth in two of their last three campaigns, have picked up 28 points from their 15 home league games during the 2022-23 season, but they will be welcoming a Real Madrid outfit with 31 points from their 16 away matches, which is the second-best record behind Barcelona.
Real Madrid managed to bounce back from their surprise 4-2 loss at Girona last week by recording a 4-2 victory over Almeria in Saturday afternoon’s clash in the Spanish capital.
Karim Benzema scored three times for the reigning champions, while Rodrygo also registered, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side moving onto 68 points from 32 league matches this season.
Los Blancos are not going to win the title this term unless something extraordinary happens, though, with Barcelona sitting 11 points clear of their bitter rivals at the summit, and there are just six games left.
Real Madrid are in a battle with Atletico Madrid for second, but it would be fair to say that their attention is currently on the Copa del Rey and Champions League, with the capital giants looking to win both competitions in the latter stages of the campaign.
Ancelotti’s side will take on Osasuna in the final of the Copa del Rey next Saturday before welcoming Manchester City for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final three days later.
Real Madrid drew 0-0 with Real Sociedad in the reverse league game at Bernabeu back in January, but Los Blancos have not lost to Tuesday’s opponents in Spain’s top flight since May 2019.
Real Sociedad La Liga form:
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Real Madrid La Liga form:
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Real Madrid form (all competitions):
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We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Real Madrid
This is arguably a bigger match for Real Sociedad, who are attempting to secure a top-four finish. Real Madrid will not want to enter the Copa del Rey final off the back of a poor result, though, and we can see the points being shared, which would not be the worst result for either side.