02 December 2021, 16:09 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The Spanish LaLiga top-of-the-table clash, Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid, kicks off at 21:00 (GMT+1) on Saturday, December 4, at the Anoeta Stadium.
Preview Real Sociedad La Liga, Dec 4, 2021
Preview Shocked in a 1-0 defeat to Espanyol last weekend at the RCDE Stadium, Real Sociedad aims to return to winning ways in this difficult fixture against Real Madrid. Sociedad started on the back foot in the game against Espanyol, leaving the latter to do all the attacking in the opening minutes. - With Espanyol hitting the woodwork on one occasion. A controversial moment followed in the second half when the referee allowed play to continue despite having a touch on the ball. But he later reversed the decision after Alexander Isak bagged what would have been the opener following the incident. Espanyol’s Yangel Herrera (77') eventually broke the deadlock to leave Sociedad with their first defeat in five LaLiga games: WDWDL. The defeat saw Sociedad slip from 2nd to 3rd place, giving the spot away [on goal difference] to Atlético de Madrid (29 points), having failed to pick up a point. Sociedad has 29 points after 8W, 5D, & 2L, and an unlikely win over Real Madrid would see the club reiterate their intentions for a top-two finish at the end of the season. A 4—4—2 formation is expected from Imanol Alguacil on Saturday. Having started from the bench against Espanyol, Alexander Isak could be returning to the starting line-up to partner either Mikel Oyarzabal or Alexander Sørloth in attack for this clash against Real Madrid. For this fixture, Nacho Monreal is doubtful, alongside David Silva (hamstring).
Preview Real Madrid La Liga, Dec 4, 2021
Preview Real Madrid increased their lead at the top of the table to seven points after a 1-0 victory over Athletic Club in a previously outstanding match. Red-hot Karim Benzema took his tally as the league’s top scorer to 12 following his 40th-minute strike in the midweek match against the Bilbao-based side at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. With 36 points from 11W, 3D, and 1L, Madrid has five consecutive victories, WWWWW, ahead of this fixture against Real Sociedad. Carlo Ancelotti, who has a 75% win rate [after 20 games (15W, 3D, and 2L)] in his second spell as Real Madrid's manager, hopes to improve even more with a win on Saturday. Ancelotti has stuck with the 4—3—3 formation since his arrival, and the familiar shape will be seen again on Saturday, with Karim Benzema as the cutting edge of the attacking knife. Benzema finished 4th in the Ballon d’Or ranking on Monday night, and his tally of 12 goals and 7 assists forms a 60% participation in Madrid’s haul of 35 LaLiga goals this season. Gareth Bale (calf injury) and Daniel Ceballos (ankle injury) remain doubtful for this fixture.