Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors remain second in the table, 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, while Real Sociedad are currently in charge of fourth, sitting eight points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal.

Match preview

Since losing the Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao on April 15, Real Sociedad have picked up seven points from three league matches, beating Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna, in addition to drawing with Real Betis.

Imanol Alguacil's side were 2-0 winners over Osasuna on Friday, with an own goal from Sergio Herrera sending the visitors ahead, before Takefusa Kubo registered their second in the latter stages of the contest.

Real Sociedad are currently fourth in the table, eight points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal, although the Yellow Submarine will have the chance to close the gap to five points ahead of this match.

The White and Blues are in pole position to secure a Champions League spot for next season, and it would be their first top-four finish in Spain's top flight for 10 years.

Alguacil's side, who have been sixth in two of their last three campaigns, have picked up 28 points from their 15 home league games during the 2022-23 season, but they will be welcoming a Real Madrid outfit with 31 points from their 16 away matches, which is the second-best record behind Barcelona.

Real Madrid managed to bounce back from their surprise 4-2 loss at Girona last week by recording a 4-2 victory over Almeria in Saturday afternoon's clash in the Spanish capital.

Karim Benzema scored three times for the reigning champions, while Rodrygo also registered, with Carlo Ancelotti's side moving onto 68 points from 32 league matches this season.

Los Blancos are not going to win the title this term unless something extraordinary happens, though, with Barcelona sitting 11 points clear of their bitter rivals at the summit, and there are just six games left.

Real Madrid are in a battle with Atletico Madrid for second, but it would be fair to say that their attention is currently on the Copa del Rey and Champions League, with the capital giants looking to win both competitions in the latter stages of the campaign.

Ancelotti's side will take on Osasuna in the final of the Copa del Rey next Saturday before welcoming Manchester City for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final three days later.

Real Madrid drew 0-0 with Real Sociedad in the reverse league game at Bernabeu back in January, but Los Blancos have not lost to Tuesday's opponents in Spain's top flight since May 2019.

Real Sociedad La Liga form:

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Real Madrid La Liga form:

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Real Madrid form (all competitions):

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Team News

Real Sociedad will again be without the services of Diego Rico, Sadiq Umar and Martin Merquelanz for Tuesday's contest with the Spanish and European champions.

Head coach Alguacil is expected to make changes from the side that started against Osasuna, with Mikel Oyarzabal, Alexander Sorloth and Brais Mendez all set to return.

Kubo will also be in contention following his impressive performance off the bench last time out, and the attacker could now be handed a starting role in the final third of the field.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, will again be missing Ferland Mendy and David Alaba through injury, while Luka Modric is also out with a hamstring issue, with the Croatian facing a battle to be fit for the Copa del Rey final.

Benzema and Thibaut Courtois both made their returns against Almeria and should again be in the squad for this match, but Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga are suspended following their bookings last time out.

Ancelotti is set to rotate ahead of the Copa del Rey final, with the likes of Nacho, Marco Asensio, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde expected to start, having been left out of the XI against Almeria.

Vinicius's absence could open the door for Eden Hazard to feature, although it seems more likely that Rodrygo will switch across to the left on Tuesday night.

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Munoz; Merino, Zubimendi, Mendez; Oyarzabal, Sorloth, Kubo

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Asensio, Benzema, Rodrygo

We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Real Madrid

This is arguably a bigger match for Real Sociedad, who are attempting to secure a top-four finish. Real Madrid will not want to enter the Copa del Rey final off the back of a poor result, though, and we can see the points being shared, which would not be the worst result for either side.

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