Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Real Madrid are heading into another summer of change with the departure of Carlo Ancelotti as Los Blancos welcome a Real Sociedad side that are in a similar position to the Bernabeu.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Real Madrid preview: Farewell to Carlo
Carlo Ancelotti will be departing Real Madrid this summer with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso expected to be in charge ahead of this summer’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with Madrid having underperformed by winning just the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
They will be seeking to finish the season with a flourish. They defeated nine-man Sevilla by two goals to nil at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Andalusia last weekend thanks to goals from likely La Liga golden boot winner Kylian Mbappe as well as England international Jude Bellingham.
Real Sociedad preview: Farewell to Imanol
Real Sociedad are also bidding farewell to their long-time manager, Imanol Aguacil. The Real Sociedad legend, who played for La Real, has been youth coach, B team assistant, B team coach, interim coach, B team coach and then first-team manager in the last 14 years.
He has been in charge of the first-team since 2018 but will be departing the Reale Arena after something of a stagnation this season. They did win their final home game of the campaign last weekend as they defeated Girona by three goals to two up in the Basque Country.
Real Madrid team news: Availability crisis
Real Madrid are dealing with several issues for this one with Jude Bellingham is now missing through suspension. They also have a few injury concerns, too, such as Antonio Rudiger, Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo among those sidelined for Los Blancos.
Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Lunin; Fede Valverde, Jacobo, Jesus Vallejo, Fran Garcia; Lucas Vazquez, Tchouameni, Modric, Dani Ceballos; Guler; Mbappe
Unavailable: Alaba (Injured), Militao (Injured), Dani Carvajal (Injured), Mendy (Injured), Rudiger (Injured), Camavinga (Injured), Bellingham (Suspended), Rodrygo (Injured)
Questionable: Raul Asencio (Injured), Brahim Diaz (Injured), Vinicius Junior (Injured), Endrick (Injured)
Real Sociedad team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Real Sociedad to deal with this weekend as Orri Oskarsson is sidelined due to a hamstring injury, whilst the likes of Nayef Ageurd and Sheraldo Becker are both doubtful for La Real.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alex Remiro; Traore, Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia, Javi Lopez; Martin Zubimendi, Pablo Marin; Kubo, Brais Mendez, Ander Barrenetxea; Mikel Oyarzabal
Unavailable: Oskarsson (Injured)
Questionable: Ageurd (Injured), Becker (Injured)
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad prediction
Real Madrid have an abundance of unavailable players for this weekend, leaving Mbappe likely to only be able to be assisted by Arda Guler in attack. That is important because all that appears to be riding on this game is getting Mbappe to 30 goals in his first La Liga season. They face a Real Sociedad side that have been poor throughout the campaign but did provide Madrid with a scare in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, in what was their best performance this season. Madrid should win at the Bernabeu and it may well be a high-scoring and entertaining game for the neutral.
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad tip: Real Madrid to win & over 2.5 goals
