Real Madrid have nothing but honour to fight for after the 4-3 beating in the El Clasico at the hands of arch-rivals Barcelona created an insurmountable seven-point gap with three games left.
The Catalans will likely be La Liga champions. But Los Blancos have a final-day fixture against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu to navigate, hoping to end the season on a high.
Madrid will fancy themselves to come out on top against a Sociedad team that is currently on a six-game winless streak and has not scored a goal in their last four matches at the time of writing.
Madrid are not firing on all cylinders either, but they should have enough in the tank to put away Sociedad come Sunday, May 25.
It has been a hopelessly disappointing campaign for Sociedad. After securing European football for five successive seasons, La Real currently find themselves in the bottom half of the table.
Sociedad also crashed out of the Europa League in the round of 16, and the entire season has gone downhill, prompting the club to part ways with manager Imanol Alguacil after seven years.
The game against Madrid looks like a massive mountain for Sociedad. They have not beaten Madrid in three attempts this season, losing twice and playing out a 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Sociedad have a decent defensive record. However, they struggle in front of goal. They lack firepower at centre-forward and on the flanks.
Captain/talisman Mikel Oyarzabal has underwhelmed this term, and it did not help that the club inexplicably allowed striker Umar Sadiq to leave on loan.
The Txuri-Urdin need to find a way to end their goal drought. Madrid are without most of their senior defenders. Los Blancos will give them opportunities, but can Sociedad take them?
The curtain falls on the La Liga season with what promises to be a dramatic finale at the Bernabeu. Don’t miss out. Get your Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad tickets now at Seatsnet.com and witness the action live.
Match Preview
Real Madrid thought they would conquer the world after sealing the La Liga and UEFA Champions League double last season.
They signed Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer and felt unstoppable.
Unfortunately, they have been beaten black and blue by their arch-nemesis, Barcelona. Madrid lost the La Liga, Super Cup, and Copa del Rey titles, with Barca mauling them four successive times.
The arrival of Mbappe, the departure of key players, and incessant injuries forced soon-to-be-former Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to shoehorn players, and these factors inevitably derailed the team.
Rodrygo Goes, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior have struggled to replicate their performances from last season, causing Madrid to falter.
However, Mbappe has continued to sparkle, putting the team on his back through the rough patch.
The 2018 World Cup winner is fresh off his 40th goal this season, netting his 28th La Liga strike to take control of the Pichichi race.
Mbappe bagged a hat-trick against Barcelona and delivered braces against Leganes, Celta Vigo, and Villarreal in his last seven league games.
Sociedad must find a way to stop the rapacious Frenchman when they come to the Bernabeu. It will be key if they plan on leaving with a result.
Sociedad will be determined to give their manager the perfect send-off with an upset win, but it is easier said than done when the opponent is Madrid.
They were never world-beaters under Alguacil, but they made up for it with their organisation. This season, that element has been missing from their game.
While it is easy to blame the manager, the hierarchy did not help his cause. They sold key players like Mikel Merino and Robin Le Normand.
The bigger problem is that their attacking output has hit its lowest point under Alguacil. They have a massive finishing problem.
Sociedad have created 72 big chances in La Liga and missed 52. Only two (!) teams have scored fewer goals in La Liga this term. They are still defensively sound, but there is a dearth of quality up top.
In many ways, this game feels like a crossroads for both sides. Real Madrid, wounded but still dangerous, want to end a turbulent season on a high.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad are hoping for one last spark under Alguacil, even as the lights begin to dim on his tenure. All signs point to a Madrid win, but football, as ever, has its surprises.
Head to Head
Real Madrid are the overwhelming favourites for this tie. They have won six of their last 10 league games against Sociedad, losing only once (D3).
Los Blancos have not lost at home to the Basque club since 2019, when Willian Jose and Ruben Pardo shocked the Bernabeu.
Across all competitions, Sociedad are winless against Madrid in their last five meetings (L4, D1), but the Txuri-Urdin will be eager to change that record.
Best XIs
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois returns between the sticks. He is one of the few who has maintained his usual levels this season.
For one last game before Trent Alexander-Arnold arrives, Fede Valverde slots in at right-back with Fran Garcia opposite him.
Raul Asencio puts his legal disputes behind him to partner with Jacobo Ramon in central defence.
In the engine room, stalwart Luka Modric will set the tempo while Aurelien Tchouameni screens the defence after returning from his one-game suspension.
Further forward, Arda Guler should continue his run in the starting XI opposite Mbappe. Both can carve open defences – Guler with guile, Mbappe with blistering pace.
Jude Bellingham will roam between the lines and drive into the box. Leading the line is Brazilian international sensation Endrick.
Predicted XI
(4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois; Fede Valverde, Raul Asencio, Jacobo Ramon, Fran Garcia; Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni; Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe; Endrick.
Real Sociedad
Alex Remiro starts in goal, trusted to keep things calm and stay in command of his area against a dangerous Madrid outfit.
Hamari Traore brings physicality and a non-stop engine at right-back, while Aritz Elustondo and Igor Zubeldia form a solid, no-nonsense centre-back pairing. Aihen Munoz fills in on the left.
Real Madrid transfer target Martin Zubimendi anchors midfield proceedings, partnered by Pablo Marin.
Takefusa Kubo lines up on the right, a livewire threat capable of unpicking defences with clever movement and quick feet.
Brais Mendez will operate through the middle, with Sergio Gomez drifting in from the left to combine and create.
Up top, Mikel Oyarzabal will hope to end his four-game goal drought, adding to his tally of three goals and an assist in 19 appearances versus Madrid.
Predicted XI
(4-2-3-1): Alex Remiro; Hamari Traore, Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia, Aihen Munoz; Martin Zubimendi, Pablo Marin; Takefusa Kubo, Brais Mendez, Sergio Gomez; Mikel Oyarzabal.
Ticket Information
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How to Watch in the UK
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