Real Madrid will host Real Sociedad at home as they aim to regain the top spot in La Liga. /AFP
Real Madrid will look to extend their perfect record at the start of the season and maintain their lead at the top of La Liga this Sunday when they face Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu, but by the ‘marathon’ of matches they will be in the Spanish capital. He is a rival who remains undefeated. The two will face off in the coming weeks.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have proven untouchable and don’t know of any outcome other than a win before they begin their journey to their fetish competition, the Champions League, against Union Berlin next Wednesday. He hopes to further improve on his results in domestic competitions. A total of seven matches await him in the next 23 days.
Athletic Club (0-2), Almeria (1-3), RC Celta (0-1) and Getafe (2-1), the latter being victims of the whites in the first match of the season at the Bernabéu. The team conceded just two goals and scored eight goals, five of which came from the signing of Englishman Jude Bellingham, who has emerged as a benchmark in Madrid’s attack.
In this way, the team now has 12 points, one less than FC Barcelona, who have 13 points after defeating Betis. He was one of the last rivals to manage to bring him to his knees in La Liga on the final day of last year (2-0, with a goal from former Real Madrid player Take Kubo).
The Italian coach will once again have to deal with a squad riddled with injuries, with midfielder Dani Ceballos the only one to recover. Ferland Mendy could return to action in the Champions League and Vinicius will be ready “six weeks ahead of schedule”.
In addition to the loss of the Frenchman and Brazilian, the leaders also have long-term absentees Belgian Thibaut Courtois and Brazilian Eder Militao. And so is the case of Turkey’s Arda Güler, who has already returned to training after undergoing meniscus surgery.
With Kepa between the sticks and Dani Carvajal and Fran Garcia on the wings, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba will form the heart of the defense this Sunday. German player Toni Kroos will be rested and join Aurélien Choameny and Eduardo Camavinga in midfield, while Josel and Rodrigo will accompany Bellingham in attack.
Real Sociedad, on the other hand, will aim to maintain an unbeaten record in a difficult venue like the Bernabéu and move closer to European status. Imanol Alguacil’s six-unit team is unbeaten in the championship so far and is one place away from sixth place despite three draws in the first round.
The San Sebastian team shared points with Girona (1-1), Celta (1-1) and Las Palmas (0-0) and had a farewell to the break with the win over Granada (5-3). Ta. They will now aim for their first away win at the stadium where they last won the Copa del Rey in 2020.
Injured Martin Merkerens and Andre Silva will be absent from the “Curi Urdin” squad, while the injured Aritz Elstondo’s status remains undetermined. Alguacil could make changes to their squad ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League debut against Inter Milan at the Reale Arena.
Source: Diario.Elmundo
