Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-01-28 20:00.
Real Madrid needed extra-time to see off city rivals Atlético 3-1 in midweek Copa del Rey action to make it three straight competitive wins, two of them achieved after conceding first. Manager Carlo Ancelotti finds it “hard to understand how a team that plays so well in the second half can play so bad in the first half,” so he’ll be hoping they start better in La Liga’s (LL) game of the weekend against Real Sociedad.
Entering the matchday three points behind leaders and fierce rivals Barcelona, he might be happier with the fact that they’ve only conceded the opener in one of their seven home league games this term and remain unbeaten at the Santiago Bernabéu (W5, D2). However, Sociedad will fancy their chances as in each of those fixtures, Los Blancos conceded exactly once.
Sociedad lost their Copa del Rey quarter-final 1-0 to Barcelona, but as they played a day earlier than Madrid and that game didn’t go to extra-time, might be a little fresher and could take full advantage of any fatigue among their hosts. Prior to that defeat, they’d recorded seven straight competitive wins, scoring an average of 2.29 goals per game, so they will pose a significant threat.
Unbeaten in the league since October (W5, D1), they find themselves only three points behind their hosts although they’ve played a game more. A result here would certainly help their bid for a first top-four finish since 2012/13, although the Blue and Whites have claimed a solitary league H2H win in Madrid since that campaign (D1, L7).
Players to watch: Rodrygo’s brilliant solo strike for Madrid against Atlético was his fourth goal from his last five to arrive after the 65th minute. He might need to spring into late action again if Alexander Sørloth can extend his run of scoring in five consecutive LL games for Sociedad, especially as three of them were openers inside 25 minutes.
Hot streak: Each of the last three H2Hs produced scoring between the 35th and 55th minute.