Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad

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Real Madrid is on a mission to maintain their perfect start to the 2023-24 La Liga season as they prepare to host Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu this Sunday night.

Carlo Ancelotti's team currently leads the league with 12 points, while Real Sociedad, also unbeaten so far, sits in eighth place with six points from their first four matches.

Although Real Madrid hasn't dazzled with their play in the early part of the season, they've been highly efficient, securing four consecutive wins against Athletic Bilbao, Almeria, Celta Vigo, and Getafe, putting them two points ahead of second-placed Girona.

Jude Bellingham has been the standout performer, netting five goals in his initial four appearances, including a dramatic late winner against Getafe just before the international break.

Real Madrid is determined to reclaim the La Liga title from Barcelona this season and will kick off their Champions League group-stage campaign next week with a home fixture against Union Berlin.

Furthermore, there's an eagerly anticipated Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid on September 24 in La Liga, adding to the excitement of the season.

The international break might have disrupted Real Madrid's momentum, given their strong start to the season. Nevertheless, they are eager to demonstrate that their winning streak remains intact.

It's worth noting that Real Madrid has only won two of their last six La Liga encounters against Real Sociedad, suffering a 2-0 loss in their most recent meeting in May. Real Sociedad managed to secure a draw at the Bernabeu last season and even recorded a league victory over Real Madrid back in the 2018-19 campaign.

Real Sociedad has enjoyed an undefeated start to this season, accumulating six points from their four matches, placing them in eighth position in the league standings.

In August, Real Sociedad played out three consecutive draws against Girona, Celta Vigo, and Las Palmas before securing their first win before the international break by defeating Granada 5-3 at home.

Like Real Madrid, Real Sociedad will commence their Champions League group-stage journey next week, with a match against Inter Milan.

Injuries have plagued some key players at Real Madrid early in the season, with Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, Arda Guler, and Vinicius Junior sidelined. Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos also experienced injuries but are now back in full training.

Ceballos is expected to rejoin the squad for this match, while Mendy might be held back, potentially for the European clash with Union Berlin.

In terms of the lineup, there aren't expected to be any major surprises for the home side. Vinicius's recent injury has opened the door for Joselu to play alongside Rodrygo in a forward pairing, with Bellingham leading the midfield. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are unlikely to feature, and Fran Garcia is set to start at left-back.

On the Real Sociedad side, they will be without Martin Merquelanz and Andre Silva for the match against Real Madrid. Umar Sadiq is expected to recover from a minor injury, and Mikel Oyarzabal might be deployed as the center-forward, as seen in their previous match against Granada.

The last game before the international break saw Real Madrid needing a comeback and a stoppage-time winner in their first match at the renovated Santiago Bernabeu to maintain their perfect start to the season. They were trailing 1-0 at halftime but dominated the second half, with 76% possession and 12 shots on target.

Real Madrid has carried their strong form from the end of the previous season, remaining unbeaten in their last seven La Liga matches, with six victories. They also boast an impressive home record, with only one loss in their last 24 home league games, scoring 58 goals while conceding just 17.

Real Sociedad poses a challenge as well, having also started the season unbeaten, although they've drawn three of their first four fixtures.

Despite the goalless draw between these two teams last season, matches in Madrid usually produce goals. Real Madrid has won 10 of their last 13 head-to-head clashes, with an average of 4.31 goals per game, making them the clear favorites to win again. Betting on another home victory with at least two goals in the match offers attractive odds.

Jude Bellingham's performances have drawn praise, even from Ancelotti, who calls him the "complete midfielder." His outstanding all-around display for England against Scotland during the international break, topped with another goal, underlines his talent.

Bellingham's goal-scoring stats in his early La Liga games put him in elite company. He becomes the fourth player this century to score in his first four La Liga games, alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Cesc Fàbregas. Only Radamel Falcao scored five goals in fewer appearances.