Spain - Primera Division
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Played
January 6, 2013 4:00 PM GMT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ Ignacio Iglesias‎
Attendance:‬ 57136‎
 

Real Madrid - Real Sociedad Preview: Los Blancos seek fresh start after winter break

Dogged by poor results, internal conflict and injuries, the defending Liga champions return to Liga action hoping to turn the corner against Philippe Montanier's side

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Real Madrid CF, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid CF vs Real Sociedad
  PROBABLE LINEUPS
REAL MADRID

Casillas
Essien, Albiol, Varane, Arbeloa
Khedira, Alonso
Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo
Higuain
REAL SOCIEDAD
Roma
Bravo
Estrada, Gonzalez, I Martinez, De La Bella
Illarramendi, Pardo
Vela, Prieto, Griezmann
Ifran

Real Madrid have a host of defensive problems heading into Sunday's Primera Division clash with Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Fabio Coentrao (thigh), Pepe, Marcelo (both ankle) and Sergio Ramos (suspension) are out, but Raul Albiol, Raphael Varane and Gonzalo Higuain all return from spells on the sidelines.

Boss Jose Mourinho is under pressure to restore captain Iker Casillas to the starting line-up, after the Spain international was surprisingly dropped in favour of Antonio Adan for the 3-2 defeat at Malaga.

Real Sociedad are set to be without defender Carlos Martinez, who is struggling with a hip problem.

Midfielder Gorka Elustondo has recovered from a foot injury that has sidelined him since August and is likely to be named on the bench, but Asier Illarramendi is a minor doubt.

  DID YOU KNOW?

  • Real Madrid have won just four of their last nine matches in all competitions.

  • Madrid conceded the fewest number of La Liga goals in 2012, shipping just 34.

  • Los Merengues are on a 20-match unbeaten Liga run at the Santiago Bernabeu.

  • Real Sociedad are on an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W4, D4)

  • The Basque outfit have lost their last seven encounter with Madrid.

  • Sociedad's last Liga win at the Bernabeu was a 4-1 success in May 2004.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Real Madrid CF 3-1 Real Sociedad
    11.19 %
  • Real Madrid CF 3-0 Real Sociedad
    8.14 %
  • Real Madrid CF 4-1 Real Sociedad
    6.54 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 6, 2013 Real Madrid CF 4 - Real Sociedad 3
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Mar 24, 2012 Real Madrid CF 5 - Real Sociedad 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Oct 29, 2011 Real Sociedad 0 - Real Madrid CF 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Feb 6, 2011 Real Madrid CF 4 - Real Sociedad 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Sep 18, 2010 Real Sociedad 1 - Real Madrid CF 2
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Last Five Matches
Real Madrid CF
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 11, 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid CF 1LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Real Sociedad
May 18, 2013Sevilla 1 - Real Sociedad 2LIGA
May 13, 2013Real Sociedad 2 - Granada 2LIGA
May 6, 2013Getafe 2 - Real Sociedad 1LIGA
Apr 28, 2013Real Sociedad 4 - Valencia CF 2LIGA
Apr 21, 2013Osasuna 0 - Real Sociedad 0LIGA
Odds
Returns: Real Madrid £12.22 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £210.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Real Sociedad £5010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
13AdánGoalkeeper
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
2Ricardo CarvalhoDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
21CallejónStriker
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
27NachoDefender
-LlorenteDefender
8KakáMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
1Claudio BravoGoalkeeper
3Mikel González MartínezDefender
26Íñigo MartínezDefender
22Dani EstradaMidfielder
24Alberto De la Bella Defender
10Xabi PrietoMidfielder
27Rubén PardoMidfielder
17Zurutuza Midfielder
7Antoine GriezmannStriker
23Carlos VelaStriker
21Diego IfránStriker
13ZubikaraiGoalkeeper
15Jon AnsoteguiDefender
-José ÁngelDefender
4Gorka Gorka Elustondo UrkiolaMidfielder
20Asier Illarramendi IllarramendiMidfielder
11Chory CastroMidfielder
-Javier RosMidfielder
Players to Watch
Iker Casillas
Iker Casillas
Position: Goalkeeper
Squad Number: 1
Games Goals YC RC
19 0 1 0
The Real Madrid captain is likely to be restored between the sticks after Mourinho's gamble on starting Adan backfired against Malaga. The spotlight will be firmly focused on Casillas as he strives to plug a rearguard that has shipped nine goals in its last four outings.
Diego Ifrán
Diego Ifrán
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 21
Games Goals YC RC
25 2 2 0
The Uruguayan is likely to get the nod over Imanol Agirretxe to spearhead Real Sociedad's attack at the Bernabeu. Ifran will look to capitalise on errors from Madrid's makeshift backline and fire his side to their first win over the hosts in eight years.
Prediction
While defensive concerns remain, the return of Higuain should help Madrid have some of their swagger back up front. Sociedad have been in a good run of form of late but will do well to get a point out of this.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 2
Real Sociedad 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid 		28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		20 3