The Royals before the CL dress rehearsal
For Real Madrid, it’s the big dress rehearsal before the cracker in the Champions League against PSG: On Saturday evening, the royals welcome Real Sociedad in Spain’s La Liga on Matchday 27.
With a win, the Madrilenians naturally want to gain self-confidence for the difficult CL duel with Paris, but the home match is not likely to be a foregone conclusion – after all, Real Sociedad are fighting for Europe themselves and desperately need every point.
It is the clash of first against sixth, one of two top matches in Spain on this matchday, as the clash Betis Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid also takes place on Sunday evening.
Even though the Basques from San Sebastian are within striking distance of the Champions League, Real are favourites going into this match – as the odds also show in the Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad match. Will Real Madrid master the CL dress rehearsal with three points in the bag, or will Real Sociedad get something worthwhile at the Bernabeu?
Real Madrid – Statistics & current form
Not all that glitters has been gold at Real Madrid recently – even though Real are unbeaten in six La Liga games again. Much more impressive than this little run, however, is that Real Madrid have not conceded a single goal in their last four league games. They won against Rayo (1-0), Alaves (3-0) and Granada (1-0), and drew against Villarreal (0-0).
However, Real Madrid were anything but convincing in these games. Often, the supporters were treated to plain home cooking or service according to the rules, but due to their individual class, they still won against the weaker teams without much effort.
Home strong Real Madrid still without defeat in the Bernabeu
This could be different on Saturday – after all, sixth-placed San Sebastian are coming to the Bernabeu. However, it is obvious that Real Madrid should not necessarily be afraid, given their home strength. The Blancos have not yet lost a home game (13 games, 9 wins, 4 draws). Moreover, Ancelotti’s team has only conceded eight goals at home – only rivals Real Sociedad in La Liga have a better home defence.
It is therefore hardly surprising that the league leaders are favourites to win the match, as the betting odds on Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad confirm.
It should be noted, however, that Real will be without midfield powerhouse Toni Kroos against the Basques. The German midfield strategist has picked up a muscle injury, quite a weakening for the royals.
Projected Real Madrid line-up:
Courtois – Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy – Casemiro, Modric, Valverde – Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Last matches played by Real Madrid:
LaLiga
02/26 2022 – Rayo Vallecano 0 – 1 Real Madrid
02/19 2022 – Real Madrid 3 – 0 Deportivo Alaves
Champions League Final
02/15 2022 – Paris Saint-Germain 1 – 0 Real Madrid
LaLiga
02/12 2022 – Villarreal FC 0 – 0 Real Madrid
02/06 2022 – Real Madrid 1 – 0 Granada
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
With “to-nil” games Real Sociedad also knows a lot about: The Basques have not conceded a goal in six of their last seven league games! An impressive record that shows that coach Imanol Alguacil’s team has one of the best defensive lines in Spain. Only Sevilla FC (18) and Real Madrid (20) have conceded fewer goals than Real Sociedad (25).
In the Europa League, however, there was little sign of that in the elimination against RB Leipzig (2:2, 1:3). But the EL exit did little to harm the Basques, as the Alguacil team responded directly with two victories en suite in La Liga (1-0 against Osasuna, 2-0 in Mallorca in the week’s make-up match).
Will Real Sociedad score in Madrid?
So, all indications are that Real Sociedad should be a tough match for the favoured Real Madrid. Those who believe that the Txuri-Urdin (Basque for: the blue and white) will also keep the zero at the Bernabeu will receive high odds on Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad.
Because Real Sociedad know how to take points or even wins from the Bernabeu, we show in the paragraph on the direct comparison.
Predicted Real Sociedad line-up:
Remiro – Elustondo, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Gorosabel – Merino, Zubimendi, Portu, Silva, Oyarzabal – Isak
Last matches played by Real Sociedad:
LaLiga
03/02 2022 – Mallorca 0 – 2 San Sebastian
02/27 2022 – San Sebastian 1 – 0 Osasuna Pamplona
Europa League Final Stage
02/24 2022 – San Sebastian 1 – 3 RB Leipzig
LaLiga
02/20 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 4 – 0 San Sebastian
Europa League Final Stage
02/17 2022 – RB Leipzig 2 – 2 San Sebastian
Real Madrid – Real Sociedad Direct Comparison / H2H Record
Of the last ten duels, Real Madrid have won “only” four. Real Sociedad have won three times and drawn twice. The Basques shocked the Madrilenians several times at the Bernabeu, winning the Copa del Rey in 2020 (4:3) and the Liga in 2019 (2:0) at the Real Madrid stadium. Last year they drew in Madrid, but that time they did not play at the Bernabeu, but at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano due to the Bernabeu renovations.
The overall balance in La Liga, however, is clearly in Real Madrid’s favour. 149 games have been played between the two teams so far, 84 of which have been won by Real Madrid. Real Sociedad have won 26 and drawn 39.
Real Madrid – Real Sociedad betting tips
Of course, betting on Real Madrid against Real Sociedad is extremely obvious. But would a draw really be surprising? After all, there have already been four at the Bernabeu, and Real Madrid certainly have the important Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain next week in the back of their minds.
And of course there is also Real Sociedad’s impressive “to-nil” series of late. Reasons enough to bet on at least a few goals, possibly also on a small stumble by the league leaders.
For this reason, we are hedging our bets in our Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad prediction and are betting on a double chance combination: “Real Madrid or a draw” and “both score” is our final tip.
