Real Sociedad faces a full-strength Real Madrid side this weekend in LaLiga. Madrid manager José Mourinho has named his strongest possible starting eleven for the match at the Santiago Bernabéu.
This clash marks Mourinho's second official bow at the white coliseum. La Real arrives at the game sitting 12th in the table with 3 points from one win and two losses. The Basque side has scored 3 goals and conceded 6 in its opening three fixtures, leaving them 4 points behind leaders Atlético Madrid.
Who starts in Real Madrid's lineup?
Mourinho has deployed his stars from the off. Thibaut Courtois starts in goal. The defense consists of Denzel Dumfries at right-back, the center-back partnership of Ibrahima Konaté and Dean Huijsen, and Marc Cucurella at left-back. The latter makes his first start after appearing as a substitute against Espanyol.
In midfield, Federico Valverde's place was never in doubt. He is joined by Bernardo Silva, who won the tactical decision over Eduardo Camavinga for the spot. Aurélien Tchouameni is sidelined through injury. The attack features Arda Güler on the right wing, Jude Bellingham in the attacking midfield role, Vinicius Junior on the left, and Kylian Mbappé as the central striker.
How was the right flank dilemma resolved?
The main pre-match debate centered on who would occupy the right flank. The options were Arda Güler and the youngster Diomande. The en.as.com report indicated both players would feature, but only one would start. The prevailing view was that they were competing for the same position, with the option of dropping Güler into a deeper role to accommodate Diomande appearing unlikely. In the end, the Turkish international Arda Güler got the nod from Mourinho to begin the match.
What does this lineup mean for Real Sociedad?
Facing Real Madrid's strongest XI at the Bernabéu is always the ultimate challenge. Real Sociedad must be defensively solid to contain an offensive trident of Bellingham, Vinicius, and Mbappé, considered untouchable when available. The key for Imanol Alguacil's men could be to pressure a defense featuring a left-back, Cucurella, who is making his first start.
The league context adds pressure for the visitors. With a recent form of loss, win, loss (WLL), La Real needs points to climb away from the lower reaches of the standings. This match is a prelude to their next home fixture against Celta Vigo, scheduled for September 3rd.
What rotations does Real Madrid have planned?
The en.as.com report also notes that Mourinho already has rotations planned for the next league game. Next Sunday, against Málaga, Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to come into the starting lineup. This confirms the Portuguese manager will manage his squad with the long season in mind, despite naming his best players today against Real Sociedad. Fans can follow the squad's evolution on our team page.
For La Real, the immediate focus after the Madrid match will be preparing for the clash with Celta, a direct rival currently in 16th place. A positive result at the Bernabéu, however difficult, could provide a vital morale boost for that encounter. All information on upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page.
