Real Madrid will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 season when they travel to San Sebastian for Saturday's La Liga meeting with Real Sociedad. Los Blancos are sitting in second place with eight points to their name, while the hosts are in 14th position after taking four points from as many games.
Real Madrid won't be able to pick either Jude Bellingham or Aurelien Tchouameni when it takes on Real Sociedad away in La Liga on Saturday night. The news broke that the previously injured players were missing from training on Friday morning, and it was swiftly confirmed by head coach Carlo Ancelotti. “Tomorrow a very demanding schedule starts,” the Italian said to kick off his prematch press conference in the Spanish capital. “We want to start well. We have recovered some players. We always start with the enthusiasm and desire to compete. La Real is complicated and difficult, but we have a good feeling,” he added. When probed on the Englishman and Frenchman, Ancelotti stated: “Tomorrow they are not going to play, it is too early. We’ll see if they’ll be available on Tuesday in the Champions League.”
Real Sociedad have experienced an underwhelming start to the new season, having mustered just one win from their opening four matches. That sole victory took place on the second matchday when Take Kubo scored a late winner to fire his team to a 1-0 away win over newly-promoted Espanyol.
Unfortunately for Imanol Alguacil, his side followed that victory with a narrow defeat against fellow Basque side Alaves, before they had to settle for a goalless draw in their most recent meeting with Getafe at the Coliseum. Real Sociedad have ultimately lacked a cutting edge in the early stages of the 2024-25 season, having failed to score more than one goal in any of their four matches.
La Real have also failed to take anything from their opening two games at the Reale Arena after losing 2-1 in both of their home matches against Rayo Vallecano and Alaves, ensuring that they are one of three teams yet to collect a home point in La Liga this season. The Basque outfit will be dreaming of beating Real Madrid and instilling some much-needed impetus into their campaign, but that may be easier said than done as they have won just one of their previous nine meetings with Los Blancos (D3, L5).
Real Madrid may have made an unbeaten start to the league season, but their failure to win on the road has left them four points adrift of early pacesetters Barcelona, who have won all four of their La Liga matches. Los Blancos have been held to 1-1 draws in both of their away league games against Mallorca and Las Palmas, while they have taken maximum points in their two home meetings with Real Valladolid and Real Betis.
In a 4-3-3 then, Fede Valverde will be the lone pivot providing support to Arda Guler and captain Luka Modric, who have a rare start together in the centre of the park. Up top, it is not the same attacking trident of Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo after their teammate Dani Carvajal admitted it is having problems finding the right balance. Ancelotti also publicly attested that Vinicius is “not at his best”, but he is more than content with the Brazilian. “He is not at his best, but he is very decisive for us. We are not in any hurry. The team has scored and he’s being important. It’s my last concern,” Ancelotti stressed. “He always works well and gives everything he has. I’m very happy with what he’s doing. I can’t think of always having everyone at 100%.”
After failing to net his first three La Liga matches, Kylian Mbappe finally opened his La Liga account in the final game before the international break, netting a brace to fire Carlo Ancelotti's side to a 2-0 victory over Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu. That result extended Real Madrid's unbeaten league run to 31 matches, meaning that it is nearly a year since they suffered their most recent La Liga defeat in the derby against city rivals Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid will look to extend that undefeated streak in Saturday's clash, with the visitors hoping to record a third consecutive head-to-head victory after recording 2-1 and 1-0 victories in their two meetings with Real Sociedad in the 2023-24 campaign.
With this in mind, Vinicius gets the nod alongside Mbappe while Rodrygo is dropped for Brahim. Further back down the pitch, Ancelotti at least boasts a strong defence that contains Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy from right to left. Thibaut Courtois is the first choice goalkeeper, amid second choice shotstopper Andriy Lunin taking the surprise step of extending his contract until 2030.
Ancelotti will also be challenging his side to make a fast start, having seen his team score just two of their seven league goals before the hour mark in their opening four matches.
Real Sociedad's attacking options have been hit by an injury to captain Mikel Oyarzabal, who picked up a knee issue while on international duty with Spain. Hamari Traore is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Getafe, while Brais Mendez and Arsen Zakharyan are ruled out with foot and ankle issues respectively. In positive news, Alvaro Odriozola and Ander Barrenetxea have overcome their fitness issues and are expected to be involved in Saturday's matchday squad.
As for Real Madrid, David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Dani Ceballos is sidelined due to an ankle problem. Los Blancos have received a significant boost with the news that Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni are back in full training, although the pair are unlikely to be risked from the start. Eder Militao returned early from international duty after sustaining a muscle injury in Brazil training, but the defender is expected to be fit to take his place in central defence alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Above all, the mission in Anoeta will be to get three points and move within one of La Liga leaders and bitter rivals FC Barcelona.
Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. Real Sociedad: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Guler, Modric; Brahim, Mbappe, Vinicius
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Pacheco, Lopez; Turrientes, Zubimendi, Gomez; Kubo, Becker, Oskarsson
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Modric; Rodrygo, Guler, Vinicius; Mbappe
After drawing their opening two away games, Real Madrid will be determined to claim their first away victory in Saturday's contest, and we think that they will do enough to beat a Real Sociedad side that has lost both of their home league games this season.
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