This Saturday, Real Madrid hosts Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu for the 24th matchday of La Liga. This match is crucial for the Madrid side, who are entering a decisive period of their season.
After two relatively quiet weeks without midweek matches, Real Madrid is gearing up for an intense stretch: four games in just twelve days, including a double-header against Benfica in the Champions League. But before thinking about continental battles, Arbeloa’s men must secure a home win against a confident Real Sociedad to maintain their pace in the league.
The Basques arrive with plenty of confidence. They won their last match in Bilbao (0-1) on Wednesday and boast an impressive record over the last seven La Liga matches: five wins and two draws, against Bilbao and Atlético Madrid. Among these victories, the win against FC Barcelona highlights the team’s ability to compete with the league’s top teams. This positive momentum underscores their determination to secure a European spot, a major goal for the season.
On the Madrid side, the team has enjoyed about fifteen days of rest, which has been valuable for recovery and preparing for upcoming matches. However, there has been some concern lately regarding Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman spent Wednesday and Thursday in the gym, but he finally rejoined the group on Friday, easing the worries of the staff and supporters.
On the other hand, some absences are still noteworthy. Rodrygo will not be available, still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the Supercup semifinal against Atlético. Jude Bellingham is also out, and his absence could now extend to six or eight weeks, rather than the four initially expected. Finally, Eder Militao continues his rehabilitation and will not return in the coming weeks.
Despite these absences, Real Madrid must show their best face to triumph over Real Sociedad and approach the busy period ahead with confidence. Saturday’s match could be a real turning point in Madrid’s season, a test of strength before the European challenges and crucial league matches.
