Real Madrid will be looking to win their third successive La Liga match to shorten the six-point gap between themselves and current league leaders Barcelona with a win against Real Sociedad today, before the Catalan’s play tomorrow.
After 12 matches Los Blancos sit third with 28 points, having lost against both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – the teams currently occupying the top two places with 34 and 33 points respectively.
The game will be the first time Los Blancos defensive midfielder Asier Illaramendi, who joined the Madrid club for a fee of €38m this summer, will play against his former club.
Illaramendi was a product of Sociedad’s cantera, and a key figure as the team had a fantastic 2012/13 season and finished 4th in La Liga, qualifying for the Champions League.
But after the highs of last season Sociedad have had a slow start to this year. They are currently 7th in La Liga, but will be more disappointed with their performances in the Champions League, where they are bottom of the group with one point from four matches.
They did, however, hold Manchester United to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday, and Madrid will make sure they take nothing for granted, wary of Sociedad’s dangerous attacking players like Frenchman Antoine Griezmann and former Arsenal striker Carlos Vela.
Probable line ups:Real Madrid: Lopez; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Arbeloa; Illarramendi, Alonso, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Real Sociedad: Bravo; Martinez, Martinez, Gonzalez, Angel; Pardo, Elustondo; Vela, Prieto, Griezmann; Agirretxe
