Real Madrid Vs Real Sociedad Premier League Football Match 2023
The hosts are coming into the game on the back of a 2-1 comeback victory over Getafe before the international break. Borja Mayoral put the visitors ahead against his former club in the first half. Joselu drew the game level with his first goal for Los Blancos early in the second half, while Jude Bellingham continued his impressive start to life at the Bernabeu with an injury-time winner.
In the last game prior to the international break Real Madrid needed to come from behind and score a stoppage-time winner in their first game at the newly-renovated Santiago Bernabéuo to preserve their 100% start to the season. Trailing 1-0 at the break Carlo Ancelotti’s side laid siege to the Getafe goal finally getting their reward after having 76% of the ball and firing 12 shots on target.
Madrid have continued their good form from the end of last season and are now unbeaten in their last seven La Liga outings winning six of them. Also boasting an incredible record on home soil with just one defeat across their last 24 home league games. Scoring 58 while only conceding 17 times.
Real Sociedad will be tough customers as they have also made an unbeaten start to the season. Although drawing three of their opening four fixtures.
Despite this game ending 0-0 last term there are usually goals involved when these two meet in Madrid. The home side have won 10 of the last 13 head-to-head clashes with an average of 4.31 goals per game and are a clear favourite to emerge as the winner again. Taking another home win with a total of at least two goals in the match boosts the odds to an attractive looking even money. There are very few superlatives left to shower Jude Bellingham with. When Real Madrid won the race in the summer to sign the 20-year-old from Borussia Dortmund for a fee that could rise to €134m surely they could only dream of him having such an instant impact.
The England midfielder has scored in each of his first four La Liga appearances and is the leading goalscorer with five goals. His latest a 95th-minute winner against Getafe. When a legendary manager like Ancelotti describes him as the “complete midfielder” those that weren’t already need to sit up and take very close notice. Bellingham underlined that with an outstanding all round performance for England against Scotland in midweek. Topped off with yet another goal.
The young man from Birmingham is in some elite company regarding his goal-scoring stats from his opening games in Spain’s top flight. He is only the fourth player to score in his first four La Liga games this century alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Cesc Fàbregas. While only Radamel Falcao has taken fewer appearances to score five goals. As far as predictions for this match are concerned Jude Bellingham to score is the favourite of all my tips. Robin Le Normand has been one of the most consistent defenders in La Liga over recent seasons but has had a testing start to this new campaign. The 26-year-old was booked in each of his first three league appearances this term.
In the last match prior to the international break he managed to stay out of the referees notebook. However, instead turned in Gerard Gumbau’s near-post corner to gift visitors Granada an equaliser. The error didn’t prove costly with Sociedad running out 5-3 winners. I am taking Le Normand, who has chosen to represent Spain over his native France, to continue his eventful start to the campaign by being carded once again here. Real Madrid have shown their mettle this season and despite not cruising to victories, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have done enough to get over the line so far.
A major reason for their winning start to the campaign has been Jude Bellingham, with the England international proving to be worth every penny spent to get him from Dortmund. Real Sociedad are one of the most difficult sides to beat in La Liga and they currently boast the best first-half record in the league. Real Madrid might have to up the ante in the second half if they are to get maximum points. We are backing the hosts to claim a narrow win with goals at both ends.
