Real Madrid examine their good moment at the Reale Arena
MADRID, 3 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid visit Real Sociedad this Saturday (9:00 p.m. / Movistar LaLiga) in a match that seems key for the Whites, who will put their good moment to the test and will seek to continue expanding the distance with respect to the second classified, while the Basques They do not want to lose the leadership train and hope that the three points will bring them closer to the head of LaLiga Santander again.
Duel at the top of the competition between two teams that arrive in a very different way at the first league match of December. Carlo Ancelotti’s men are more leaders than ever after their victory at the Santiago Bernabéu against Athletic Club, a match in which Real Madrid shone in the first half but without luck in the face of goal, although in the second half they He saw a compromised team, who knew how to suffer and found a goal from a Benzema plugged in to give another blow to the table.
The Whites are still immersed in weeks with a tough schedule, with demanding matches that will be key to becoming LaLiga. And it is that after facing Seville and Athletic, they will face Real Sociedad, Inter Milan and Atlético, all in just 15 days.
Thus, the whites are first in the table with 36 points, seven more than the second, Atlético de Madrid, and Real Sociedad itself. In addition, they have chained seven consecutive games winning, something that the Italian coach believes is not the result of “luck”, so it seems that he is satisfied with the performance, so far, of his players.
Ancelotti will have to decide if he does any rotation with his sights set on the ‘Champions’ match next Tuesday, in which the white box will be played to go as first of the group to the round of 16. For this reason, and after the ownership of Lucas Vázquez against Athletic, Carvajal points to the starting eleven, with the possibility of some other change in the centrals.
Although where there are more doubts is the one in the center of the field. Casemiro, Kross and Modric accumulate, between the three, more than 4,300 minutes this season, that is, an average of 1,442. It seems that at some point Ancelotti will give one of them a break, perhaps giving entry to Camavinga, Valverde or Isco.
But the Italian coach is not about to break the good dynamics that this trio of midfielders is showing, so it seems that, after assuring this Friday that he has not seen “fatigue” in the squad, Casemiro, Kroos and Modric will repeat Of start.
In the attack, Vinícius and Benzema seem untouchable thanks to the great moment in which they both live. The Frenchman is the top scorer (12 goals) and top assistant (7) of LaLiga Santander, turned into the star and the beacon of a team that plays what the ‘9’ wants. For his part, the Brazilian is now enjoying the most confident moment since he wears the white jersey. He dares and faces everything and everyone, and also maintains the success in front of goal, with 11 goals this season.
Regarding the casualties, Ancelotti will not be able to count on Bale or Ceballos, while Valverde and Hazard returned to a call in the postponed match against the ‘lions’, so this Saturday they could have minutes. Rodrygo and Asensio are also waiting their turn, although it seems unlikely that the Italian coach will make any major changes, considering that it is a key match for the Whites’ aspirations in the domestic competition.
THE REAL SOCIETY, WITH VERY SENSITIVE LOSS TO RECEIVE THE LEADER
For its part, Real Sociedad arrives at a time of doubt. They won 0-4 in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey match against Panaderías Pulido, but in LaLiga they add two games without winning, in addition to the defeat in the Europa League against Monaco.
In addition, although Imanol Alguacil made it clear that he will line up the best eleven to face the whites, the blue and white team will face a vital commitment in the continental competition next Thursday, where the pass to the round of 32 is played against PSV, which may condition the Basque plans for this Saturday.
In addition, the Donostiarras come to this meeting with very sensitive casualties. David Silva and Mikel Merino are still injured, so the Sheriff will have to rebuild the center of the field, where, surely, it will be decided who manages the game, since Casemiro, Kroos and Modric will be facing each other.
Thus, Mikel Oyarzabal could play behind the striker, to try to strengthen the central part of the field and not lose the battle for the ball. In addition, Aritz Elustondo is serving a sanction and Monreal and Carlos Fernández are still injured, so the ‘txuri-urdin’ could line up Guevara, Portu or Barrenetxea and Pacheco if Zubeldia did not arrive in time to face Real Madrid.
One of the main assets of the local team will be its stadium, the Reale Arena, which will be full to receive the leaders. The fans hope to infect the team with that festive atmosphere of joy and drive, and the first step to win against Real Madrid will be taken from the stands.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro; Gorosabel, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Diego Rico; Zubimendi, Guevara, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal, Januzaj and Alexander Isak.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Rodrygo, Vinícius Jr. and Karim Benzema.
– REFEREE: Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño).
–STADIUM: Reale Arena.
–TIME: 21.00 / Movistar LaLiga.