Real Sociedad v Real Madrid – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Real Sociedad will face Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday. The hosts finished sixth last season but have lost five of their last ten league matches. Los Blancos, on the other hand, have drawn 1-1 in both of their away La Liga matches so far. Sociedad have won four of their last 13 matches against Real Madrid, with three ending in draws.

Real Sociedad Form

Despite a strong overall season last year, Sociedad had a poor finish, ending in sixth place. Following their Champions League exit to PSG in March, they went five matches unbeaten (WWWDD). However, they lost three of their final six La Liga games, albeit against tough opponents: Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.

This season, they started with a 2-1 home loss to Rayo Vallecano despite controlling 66% of possession. They bounced back with a 1-0 win against Espanyol, despite being outshot 13-8 and conceding 1.78 xG. A 2-1 home defeat to Alaves followed, where they played with ten men for over an hour. Just before the international break, they drew 0-0 with Getafe, managing only one shot in the entire match.

Real Sociedad Team News

Attacking midfielder Brais Mendez went off injured against Getafe and remains a doubt. Right-back Álvaro Odriozola is sidelined, and Hamari Traore is a long-term absentee.

Key striker Mikel Oyarzabal sprained his ankle on international duty but has made a surprising recovery. He could be fit to start, especially as he returns from suspension after receiving a red card at club level.

Real Sociedad Motivation

After a disappointing start to the season, it’s uncertain how Los Txuri-urdin will approach this game. They typically aim to dominate possession, but confidence is low.

Given they were outshot 16-1 against Getafe in their last match, they may view a draw against Real Madrid as a great result.

Real Madrid Form

Real Madrid had a fantastic season last year, losing only once in La Liga and defeating Manchester City and Bayern Munich en route to the Champions League final. They won that final 2-0 against Dortmund and started this season by lifting the UEFA Super Cup with another 2-0 win, this time against Atalanta.

Their La Liga campaign has been mixed so far. After a 1-1 draw at Mallorca on the opening day, they secured a 3-0 home win over Real Valladolid, with two late goals sealing the victory. A 1-1 draw at Las Palmas followed, despite having 25 shots and 2.95 xG. Before the international break, they beat Real Betis 2-0 with 22 shots, as Kylian Mbappé scored both goals to open his account at his new club.

Real Madrid Team News

David Alaba remains out after knee surgery. Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga are both doubtful due to muscle injuries, although Bellingham is nearing a return. Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy are expected to be fit after minor knocks.

Dani Ceballos will be out for six weeks after spraining his ankle in the last match, and Aurelien Tchouameni has also joined the injury list. Brahim Diaz and Luka Modric are expected to start, unless Bellingham is fit to return.

Real Madrid Motivation

With the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid has been more open in their play this season. Having drawn both of their away league matches so far, they’ll see this as a must-win game.

Los Blancos will host Stuttgart in midweek, but this fixture shouldn’t serve as a distraction.

Key Stats

Real Sociedad have lost 5 of their last 10 La Liga matches.

Real Sociedad have scored just 3 goals in their last 5 matches.

Real Madrid have lost just 2 of their last 53 matches.

Real Madrid have lost 4 of their last 13 matches against Real Sociedad.

Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz has scored 3 goals in his last 5 matches (club & country).

Verdict

Based on the current form of both teams, Real Madrid are expected to be too strong for Real Sociedad. A win to nil seems likely, given the hosts’ struggles in front of goal.

Best Bet: Real Madrid Win at 1.68

Value Bet: Real Madrid Win to Nil at 2.90

Value Goalscorer Tip: Brahim Diaz to Score Anytime at 3.80

James O'Connor

James is a football analyst who writes about the tactics of the PSL and English Premier League. He holds the UEFA A coaching licence and has previously worked for several clubs in analysis roles.Twitter: https://twitter.com/footy_analysis