Real Sociedad face the daunting prospect of trying to end their winless start to the season against early pace-setters Real Madrid.
Match News and Current Form
Real Sociedad will be hoping the international break has come at just the right time after going winless across their opening three league games (D2, L1), marking their worst start to a season since the 2015/16 campaign. The most recent of those was a shock 1-0 reversal to newly-promoted Real Oviedo, a match in which they failed to convert any of their six shots on target. It has therefore been a less than ideal start to life in the dugout for new manager Sergio Francisco, who has failed to arrest a slump that started last season, with Sociedad now on a run of just one victory across their last 11 league fixtures (D4, L6).
Also under new management, Real Madrid have had a much smoother transition under Xabi Alonso. He has guided the club to top spot at this early stage thanks to three wins from three games at the start of the season, conceding a joint-league low of one goal ahead of this round. That came in a 2-1 success over Mallorca last time out and followed a 3-0 triumph at Oviedo. Supporters are growing ever more hopeful of reclaiming the title, but to achieve that, Los Blancos must do better on the road than last season, when their tally of ten away victories (D5, L4) was the club’s lowest since 2018/19.
Head-to-Head History
Sociedad have won just one of the last 13 H2Hs (D4, L8), while conceding at least twice in six of those defeats. Real Madrid have also kept a clean sheet in their last three La Liga matches against Real Sociedad (W3) and could do so in four consecutive matches against them for the second time in their history.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Real Sociedad are one of only two teams in La Liga yet to score a first-half goal.
Sociedad have conceded first in their three league fixtures this season.
Only one of Real Madrid’s last five away fixtures in La Liga saw both teams score.
The 21 La Liga shots on target managed by Real Madrid is a league-high ahead of this round.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Orri Óskarsson has scored 11 of his last 14 goals after half-time, including for Sociedad against Espanyol last month. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé is La Liga’s joint-top scorer ahead of the round with three goals this season, and seems likely to add to that tally in this game, given he has netted in four of his five personal H2Hs (W4), scoring six goals in the process.
The hosts are sweating over the fitness of Beñat Turrientes, who picked up a knock in training, while Yangel Herrera is out with a hamstring problem. Jude Bellingham is on the visitors’ list of absentees with a shoulder problem.
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Betting Analysis
The visitors are in splendid form, so a Real Madrid win with an accompanying clean sheet seems the value pick.
Author: Matt Jones