Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad: Team News, Predicted XIs, Live Stream, TV Info
So they're ejected from the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League has been shelved until February. For Real Madrid, it's La Liga and nothing else for six weeks.
For a club of this stature, the presence of just a single campaign at this point of the season is a rare occurrence. In this case it's hardly a positive either, given the farcical manner in which Madrid took a flamethrower to their own proverbial foot in the Copa del Rey saga. But even so, that hasn't stopped some attempting to give it a positive twist.
"Six weeks to make up ground," asserted Marca this week ahead of Wednesday's clash with Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu, adding that Madrid's cup elimination "may be a blessing in disguise" when set against the busier schedules that loom for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
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Yet, maybe even the immediate six weeks ahead are too distant a focus for Real Madrid at present. Right now, theirs is perhaps more of a two-day focus; they just need to get to the end of this calendar year. In any way. It doesn't matter how.
Indeed, this meeting with Real Sociedad stands as Madrid's final game of 2015, a year that has been wretched for the capital club. In January it started with a loss to Valencia, and almost everything has gone wrong since: Thrashings from Atletico and Barcelona, embarrassment against Schalke, the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti, Iker Casillas' exit, the David De Gea saga, every Florentino Perez press conference, "Cadizazo" and, worst of all, not a single bit of silverware.
Unsurprisingly, then, outrage and tension around the club are rife, but those inside are digging in. On Tuesday, manager Rafa Benitez said there was a "campaign" against the club and its current regime, insisting stories are endlessly manipulating minds and bending truths. Much of what he said was valid, but even he must see that the existence of the things he's lamenting is due to the deeply flawed way in which Madrid as an institution is being run. It's not just the results; it's what this club is becoming, or maybe what it already is.
That brings us to Wednesday, then, when the task will be simple: Just avoid another meltdown and get to 2016.
Just get there.
For Real Sociedad, meanwhile, the new year is also something to look forward to but amid different circumstances.
Since the sacking of David Moyes in early November, the Basques have improved just enough under new boss Eusebio Sacristan to suggest they're carrying an upward trajectory into 2016. Of course, given where they'd slumped to, north was probably the only direction they could go, but even so, it's been encouraging.
Whereas under Moyes the team had looked bereft of a clear idea and identity, now their plan is at least identifiable: More possession, quicker passes, a higher press and a greater presence in the opposition half. In five league games under Eusebio so far, La Real have two wins—the first came against a Sevilla side fresh from defeating Madrid; the second a local-derby win over an impressive Eibar—and a draw, with top-five outfits Barcelona and Villarreal their only conquerors.
As ever, taking points from the Bernabeu will be a stern test for the Basques, but you sense they're considerably better placed to do so than they were just two months ago.
"The Real Sociedad we will see tomorrow will be the Real Sociedad we have seen since I have been here," said Eusebio on Tuesday, eyeing a chance to launch into the new year—a new year both of these teams will hope will be better than this one.
Match Details
Date: Wednesday, December 30
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. EST/4 p.m. local
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| W: 10-2 vs. Real Sociedad | L: 0-2 vs. Villarreal |
| L: 0-1 vs. Villarreal | D: 1-1 vs. Las Palmas |
| W: 8-0 vs. Malmo | D: 1-1 vs. Getafe |
| W: 4-1 vs. Getafe | W: 2-1 vs. Eibar |
| W: 3-1 vs. Cadiz | L: 1-2 vs. Las Palmas |
| W: 2-0 vs. Eibar | L: 0-4 vs. Barcelona |
Team News
For Real Madrid, captain and centre-back Sergio Ramos will be unavailable because of a calf injury, meaning the returning Raphael Varane will likely slot in alongside Pepe at the heart of the defence. Daniel Carvajal is also still missing despite having returned to training, and won't be ready to return until the new year.
In midfield, Toni Kroos is expected to be available despite picking up a knock against Rayo Vallecano last time out, meaning the German could once again join Luka Modric and James Rodriguez in a three-man midfield. And after scoring nine goals between them last weekend, the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale will almost certainly lineup in attack.
For Real Sociedad, only the infrequently used pair of Chory Castro and David Zurutuza are unavailable for the trip to the Bernabeu, meaning manager Eusebio has close to his full squad available.
In defence, left-back Alberto de la Bella is back from suspension but might be forced to settle for a place on the bench given the strong form of Yuri, who will likely be part of an unchanged back four also featuring Inigo Martinez, Diego Reyes and Aritz Elustondo.
Ahead of them, Asier Illarramendi and Esteban Granero have established themselves as a midfield pairing under Eusebio, with the former set to come up against his old side for the first time. In attack, meanwhile, Eusebio could prioritise ball retention and thus go with both Xabi Prieto and Sergio Canales, forcing Bruma to the bench, while the in-form Imanol Agirretxe will start up front.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
Now back at home, things are better for Asier Illarramendi.
Just as he had been prior to his move to Real Madrid in 2013, the Basque has been a leading figure for Real Sociedad since his return to the club in late August. Under both Moyes and now Eusebio, Illarramendi has been ever-present at the base of his team's midfield, operating in his characteristically neat and disciplined manner, giving La Real a sense of organisation despite their lack of punch.
Indeed, the fact that Real Sociedad sit behind only Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna for fewest shots conceded in La Liga (via WhoScored.com) is a reflection of the 25-year-old's ability to anchor the midfield and break up play.
And yet, what we're still not seeing enough of from him is the quality that earned him his move to the Bernabeu but seemed to evaporate when he got there—that ability to win the ball in his own half before beating a man and breaking a line, starting attacking moves rather than just stopping them.
A return to the Bernabeu would be a good time to recapture that.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Madrid: 1-10
Draw: 9-1
Real Sociedad: 22-1
