Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as two of the top three clash.
| Date | Sunday 29th January 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 21:00 (CET) |
| Stadium | Santiago Bernabeu |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad Preview
Real Madrid are back at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, three days on from another trademark comeback cup win. It’s 2nd vs 3rd in LaLiga with Real Sociedad hoping to announce themselves as serious title contenders by storming the capital.
It will certainly be a test for Real Madrid whose performances levels have left plenty to be desired in recent weeks, particularly from a defensive standpoint. Antonio Rudiger has struggled to be the signing many hoped he would be, while there are issues at full-back. Eduardo Camavinga may fill in at left-back again here and while he performed pretty well in the unnatural position in the 3-1 win over Atleti on Thursday, it’s still one area La Real may look to exploit.
Nacho is currently doing a solid job at right-back but he’s not getting much rest with both Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez injured. This will be Real Madrid’s first home league game since the World Cup and they have only played 7 times at the Bernabeu in LaLiga this season, fewer than any other side has played at home and two less than Barcelona. Home form is clearly going to be key if Real Madrid are going to emerge victorious in this title race and they’ll be targeting six points from this match and Thursday’s game against Valencia.
Real Sociedad will provide tough opposition though with the Basque side currently on a 5 game winning streak in LaLiga. They’ve not dropped points since early November but did see their 100% start to 2023 end in midweek as they exited the Copa del Rey with a spirited 1-0 loss at Camp Nou. They weren’t aided by a 1st Half red card for Brais Mendez, one of their stars of the season so far.
Mendez will be available for this game given cup suspensions are treated separately to LaLiga and it’s probably a good job given Mikel Merino and David Silva are among what is once again a lengthy Real Sociedad injury list. They do at least have a few free midweeks now which should allow their players a chance to rest up before they return to European action in the spring.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Real Madrid
| INJURED | Vazquez |
| DOUBTFUL | Carvajal, Alaba, Tchouaméni, Mendy |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Courtois – Mendy, Rudiger, Militao, Nacho – Kroos, Camavinga, Ceballos – Vini, Benzema, Valverde (4-3-3)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Real Sociedad
| INJURED | Merquelanz, Sadiq, Merino, Gorosabel, Silva |
| DOUBTFUL | Cho, Pacheco, Sola, Guevara |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Remiro – Rico, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Elustondo – Brais, Zubimendi, Illarramendi – Oyarzabal, Sorloth, Kubo (4-3-3)
Coach: Imanol Alguacil
Score Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad
Real Madrid were really unconvincing for large periods in their cup tie against Atleti yet they still found a way to win and that has often been the way of things during Carlo Ancelotti’s second tenure. A similar story here would be no surprise, not least with Real Sociedad potentially missing as many as nine players due to injury.
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