LaLiga 2019-20: Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad preview, predicted line-ups and key facts

Match preview

Club football resumes in the Spanish Primera Liga following the final two matchdays of the Euro 2020 qualifiers. On matchday 14 of the 2019-20 Spanish top flight, record 33-time champions Real Madrid welcome fifth-placed Real Sociedad to the Bernabeu.

One of two clubs to have endured just one Liga defeat this season (the other being Atletico Madrid), Real Madrid are second in the league table, trailing two-time defending champions Barcelona on goal difference.

Sociedad meanwhile have scored in all but one game this season, beating 2013-14 winners Atletico Madrid en route to fifth place in the Liga table.

Kick-off information

Date: 23 November 2019

Time: 21:00 hours (local time)

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

TV Coverage: Facebook (India)

Form guide

Real Madrid

Since their only defeat of the Liga season, away to Malaga on matchday 9, Madrid have kept three consecutive clean-sheets in their next three games, winning two of them.

Karim Benzema is the Liga's top-scorer this season with nine goals, while Madrid custodian Thibaut Courtois is one of five keepers to have kept five (or more) clean-sheets this season.

Real Sociedad

Sociedad have won four of their six Liga games on the road this season, their only away reverses during this period coming against Sevilla (2-3) and Athletic Bilbao (0-2).

Brazilian striker Willian Jose is their top Liga scorer in 2019-20, having found the back of the net five times.

Last 5 Liga games (most recent game first)

Real Madrid: W-D-W-L-W

Real Sociedad: D-W-L-W-W

Last 5 home games (Real Madrid)

The record-33 times La Liga winners have won four of their six home games this season, while drawing two - against Real Valladolid and Real Betis respectively.

Real's last league defeat at home came on the last matchday of the 2018-19 season when they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Real Betis.

Real Madrid : D-W-W-W-W

Last 5 away games (Real Sociedad)

On the road, Sociedad have won four of their six Liga games this season, having won their last two away games - at Granada and Celta Vigo respectively.

Real Sociedad: W-W-L-W-L

Head-to-head

In 154 games in all competitions between the pair, Madrid have had a clear ascendancy, winning 84 games while losing 31.

That said, Madrid would be mindful of the fact that Sociedad did the double over the capital club last season, winning 2-0 at the Bernabeu and 3-1 at home.

In all competitions

Real Madrid: 84 wins

Real Sociedad: 31 wins

Draws: 38

In LaLiga

Real Madrid: 81 wins

Real Sociedad: 26 wins

Draws 37

Team news

Real Madrid

James Rodriguez, Luka Jovic, Nacho Fernandez and Marco Asensio are out due to injuries while Marcelo and Gareth Bale are doubtful starters.

Real Sociedad

Andoni Gorosabel and Martin Merquelanz are injured while Miguel Angel Moya and Kevin Rodrigues are doubtful starters.

Probable line-ups

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Lucas Vazquez, Benzema, Vinicius Junior

Real Sociedad (4-4-2): Rulli; Zaldua, Aritz Elustondo, Diego Llorente, Moreno; Januzaj, Illarramendi, Igor Zubeldia, Mikel Oyarzabal; Willian Jose, Juanmi.

Odds

Real Madrid to win: 1.4.

Real Sociedad to win: 6.5.

Draw: 5.0.

All the above odds are courtesy Bet365.

Key match facts

#1 13 different Madrid players, including the season's top-scorer Benzema, have scored in the Liga this season

In one of his best starts to a Liga season in his Real Madrid career, French striker Karim Benzema has scored nine goals to lead the scoring charts.

Behind Benzema, the quartet of Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale and Brazilian teenage sensation Rodrygo have scored twice apiece. Eight other players, which includes new arrival Eden Hazard, have scored once each.

#2 Captain Sergio Ramos is on a streak of 12 successful penalties

Since the departure of club-record goal-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, club captain Sergio Ramos has assumed penalty taking responsibilities for his club. The Spain international has scored his last 12 spot-kicks in all competitions.

If a penalty were to be awarded to Madrid in the game against Sociedad, and Ramos is on the field, it is fairly certain to assume who will step up to take it.

#3 Madrid have kept 5 Liga clean-sheets in their last 7 games after keeping none in their first 4 games

Real Madrid have not let in a goal in their last three games, and on five occasions in their last seven Liga games this season.

Madrid's newfound defensive solidity is impressive, considering the fact that the capital club conceded a goal in each of their first four Liga games of the season.

Also check out:La Liga La Liga fixtures La liga table 2019-20

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 18 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by Musab Abid