Real Madrid will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 season when they travel to San Sebastian for Saturday's La Liga meeting with Real Sociedad.
Los Blancos are sitting in second place with eight points to their name, while the hosts are in 14th position after taking four points from as many games.
Match preview
Real Sociedad have experienced an underwhelming start to the new season, having mustered just one win from their opening four matches.
That sole victory took place on the second matchday when Take Kubo scored a late winner to fire his team to a 1-0 away win over newly-promoted Espanyol.
Unfortunately for Imanol Alguacil, his side followed that victory with a narrow defeat against fellow Basque side Alaves, before they had to settle for a goalless draw in their most recent meeting with Getafe at the Coliseum.
Real Sociedad have ultimately lacked a cutting edge in the early stages of the 2024-25 season, having failed to score more than one goal in any of their four matches.
La Real have also failed to take anything from their opening two games at the Reale Arena after losing 2-1 in both of their home matches against Rayo Vallecano and Alaves, ensuring that they are one of three teams yet to collect a home point in La Liga this season.
The Basque outfit will be dreaming of beating Real Madrid and instilling some much-needed impetus into their campaign, but that may be easier said than done as they have won just one of their previous nine meetings with Los Blancos (D3, L5).
Real Madrid may have made an unbeaten start to the league season, but their failure to win on the road has left them four points adrift of early pacesetters Barcelona, who have won all four of their La Liga matches.
Los Blancos have been held to 1-1 draws in both of their away league games against Mallorca and Las Palmas, while they have taken maximum points in their two home meetings with Real Valladolid and Real Betis.
After failing to net his first three La Liga matches, Kylian Mbappe finally opened his La Liga account in the final game before the international break, netting a brace to fire Carlo Ancelotti's side to a 2-0 victory over Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.
That result extended Real Madrid's unbeaten league run to 31 matches, meaning that it is nearly a year since they suffered their most recent La Liga defeat in the derby against city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid will look to extend that undefeated streak in Saturday's clash, with the visitors hoping to record a third consecutive head-to-head victory after recording 2-1 and 1-0 victories in their two meetings with Real Sociedad in the 2023-24 campaign.
Ancelotti will also be challenging his side to make a fast start, having seen his team score just two of their seven league goals before the hour mark in their opening four matches.
Team News
Real Sociedad's attacking options have been hit by an injury to captain Mikel Oyarzabal, who picked up a knee issue while on international duty with Spain.
Hamari Traore is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Getafe, while Brais Mendez and Arsen Zakharyan are ruled out with foot and ankle issues respectively.
In positive news, Alvaro Odriozola and Ander Barrenetxea have overcome their fitness issues and are expected to be involved in Saturday's matchday squad.
As for Real Madrid, David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Dani Ceballos is sidelined due to an ankle problem.
Los Blancos have received a significant boost with the news that Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni are back in full training, although the pair are unlikely to be risked from the start.
Eder Militao returned early from international duty after sustaining a muscle injury in Brazil training, but the defender is expected to be fit to take his place in central defence alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Mbappe will continue to operate in a central role, with the Frenchman expected to be supported in attack by Rodrygo, Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Pacheco, Lopez; Turrientes, Zubimendi, Gomez; Kubo, Becker, Oskarsson
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Modric; Rodrygo, Guler, Vinicius; Mbappe
We say: Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid
After drawing their opening two away games, Real Madrid will be determined to claim their first away victory in Saturday's contest, and we think that they will do enough to beat a Real Sociedad side that has lost both of their home league games this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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