Galacticos to take advantage of Barca's slip up
An out of nick Real Sociedad welcome Zinedine Zidane’s title chasing Galacticos to Anoeta Stadium on Sunday evening, in need of a positive result to arrest their slide away from the European qualification places. Atletico Madrid have crept into fourth place thanks to their 5-0 thumping of Osasuna, to whom Sociedad could only draw with two games ago, putting more pressure on Imanol Alguacil’s young side. Real Madrid have been in good form in front of goal since the resumption of play and with the White and Blues sporting one of the worst defences in the top half, the likes of Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard will be licking their lips.
Background
Madrid have dispatched Eibar and Valencia by 3-1 and 3-0 scorelines respectively, with the latter the more eye-catching win. Three second half goals brought the victory on Thursday thanks to a brace from Benzema and a strike from substitute Marco Asensio. Attack is comfortably the hosts’ strongest facet of the pitch, making their challenge of facing the best defence in La Liga is a mouth-watering one.
Key men
Captain Mikel Oyarzabal is enjoying a breakthrough season up to this point, the left sided midfielder has scored 13 and assisted seven in all competitions. The 23-year-old is instrumental in Sociedad’s push for Europe completing two dribbles per game and 1.2 key passes, in tandem with the likes of Portu and Martin Odegaard they are tough to handle. He usually lets around two shots off per outing, so expect Thibaut Courtois to be tested.
Versatile attacking midfielder Portu has been brilliant in his first season at the club since signing from Girona. Typically deployed off the right flank this term, the opposite to Oyarzabal, he too has been immensely productive. Seven goals and eight assists equal his skipper’s goal involvements, the former Valencia man is really entering his peak now at 28. Alguacil will be hoping the threats from these widemen can inhibit the attacking prowess of Madrid fullbacks Dani Carvajal and Marcelo.
One of the unsung heroes of the Real Madrid machine, buoyed by Barcelona dropping points in Seville last night is Thibaut Courtois in between the sticks. When the Belgian joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2018, he faced fierce competition from Keylor Navas for the goalkeeper berth and has won that battle going on to look like he could be their gloveman for the foreseeable future. At 28 there is still a lot to come, the Galacticos may have found their Manuel Neuer equivalent.
Madrid have looked a class above in their last two fixtures, the complete opposite to Sociedad, so back the visitors accordingly.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
A late Mikel Merino consolation stopped this week being a clean sweep. 2-1 it finished, Real Madrid going top in the process.