Real Madrid team news, possible line-up against Real Sociedad

Real Madrid have a crucial week of LaLiga action ahead of them, with Saturday’s away assignment against Real Sociedad followed by a derby clash with Atlético Madrid at the Bernabéu next weekend. They’re the two teams just behind leaders Madrid in the league table and, together with Sevilla, are shaping up as Los Blancos’ major challengers for the title.

Ancelotti expected to make few changes to Real Madrid team

For Saturday’s visit to San Sebastián, which sees Madrid face a Real Sociedad side on a run of two defeats and a draw in their last four games, head coach Carlo Ancelotti is not expected to make many changes to his team, as the men from the Spanish capital look to extend their streak of seven wins in a row.

The only major selection doubt appears to concern whether Ancelotti will pick Casemiro or Federico Valverde at the base of the midfield. Casemiro is one yellow card away from a one-match ban, so the Madrid boss could replace the Brazilian with Valverde, in a bid to ensure he is available for the match against Atlético.

Real Madrid's possible line-up vs Real Sociedad

Thibaut Courtois, Madrid’s stand-out player in recent games, will start in goal, behind an expected centre-back pairing of Éder Militao and David Alaba, who put in their worst performance of the season in Monday’s 1-0 LaLiga win over Athletic Club. The pair were unusually error-prone and were not forceful enough. Dani Carvajal is likely to return at right-back after being rested against Athletic, with Ferland Mendy at left-back.

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Although there is uncertainty over Casemiro’s inclusion in the XI, the rest of the midfield picks itself, with Luka Modric and Toni Koos set to start either side of the anchorman, whoever it ends up being. Although Modric and Kroos have both played a lot of minutes so far this term, they are too important to Ancelotti to be rested in a game of this importance.

Finally, a change is expected in attack, Rodrygo Goes replacing Marco Asensio on the right wing. Asensio has played well in recent games, but has been unable to find the net, and is poised to make way for the 20-year-old, who has now recovered from gastroenteritis. The other two forward positions will be occupied by the undroppable Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy, Casemiro/Valverde, Modric, Kroos, Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinícius