Sociedad seek first home victory and Real chase first away win

The Txuri-Urdin will host the defending champions on Saturday at the Reale Arena, where Imanol Alguacil’s side have already lost twice this season.

It’s one of the most anticipated duels of LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 5, as Real Sociedad are set to host reigning champions Real Madrid at the Reale Arena. Saturday’s duel will be a first-class opportunity for the two sides to gain ground, and a potential victory in San Sebastián could be the springboard in Real Madrid’s bid to rediscover their form after a slow start to the 2024/25 campaign.

Los Blancos do remain unbeaten so far, but they have already dropped four points after drawing 1-1 away at RCD Mallorca and UD Las Palmas on Matchdays 1 and 3, respectively. Yet, two victories against Real Valladolid and Real Betis at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu have allowed them to pick up a total of eight points and they currently sit second-top in the league table behind leaders FC Barcelona.

As for the Txuri-Urdin, Imanol Alguacil’s side have only managed to collect four points from the first four league games of the season. Real Sociedad suffered two 2-1 home defeats to Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo Alavés, with their only victory coming away at RCD Espanyol (1-0) on August 24th. The Basque side haven’t won either of their last two games, having recorded a goalless draw at Getafe CF on Matchday 4.

This means that Real Sociedad have yet to win at home this season, while Real Madrid are still seeking their first away win of the league campaign. Both sides will hope to change that this weekend.

BELLINGHAM COULD MAKE HIS COMEBACK

Neither David Alaba nor Eduardo Camavinga will have recovered from injury in time, but Real Madrid may receive a huge boost given that Jude Bellingham has stepped up his recovery and could return to action against Real Sociedad. The England international, who inspired Real Madrid to league success last term, has not featured since the season opener, after which he picked up a muscle injury.

Meanwhile, Brais Méndez and Hamari Traoré have joined Mikel Oyarzabal on the sidelines after picking up injuries at the Coliseum before the international break. Álvaro Odriozola may also miss out on the opportunity to face his former club after suffering an injury setback, but Aritz Elustondo has returned to team training and he is expected to be available for selection.

A RETURN TO THE REALE ARENA FOR MBAPPE

After opening his LALIGA EA SPORTS account with a brace against Real Betis, just before the break, Kylian Mbappé is ready to perform at the Reale Arena and not for the first time in 2024. Los Blancos’ summer signing netted three of Paris Saint-Germain’s four goals as the French side won their Uefa Champions League Round of 16 tie 4-1 against Real Sociedad at the beginning of 2024. In the match in San Sebastián, he was electric as he produced a brace and the Real Madrid fans will hope he can put together a similar performance on Saturday.

Yet, this may not be only re-encounter in San Sebastián, as Takefusa Kubo is expected to be included in the starting XI against his former team, Real Madrid. The 23-year-old forward kicked off the season in style with a winner off the bench against RCD Espanyol before recording a goal and two assists in Japan’s Fifa World Cup Asian qualifier 7-0 thrashing of China on Thursday.

In the 10 games which he has disputed against Los Blancos, Kubo has managed to send the ball into the back of the net once – in a 2-0 home victory on Matchday 33 in the 2022/23 campaign. Yet, that goal was of great importance for the Basque side, as it broke the deadlock in what was Real Sociedad’s sole victory in the last nine league games against Real Madrid, who have won five of these encounters.

On Saturday, Real Sociedad will look to get back to winning ways against the club from the capital. Meanwhile, Los Blancos, who won 13 of their 19 league games away from home last season, will push for their first road victory of 2024/25.

By: LALIGA EA SPORTS