Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid could swing in either direction.
By Graham Ruthven
Season-defining opportunity
This season has been a difficult one for Real Sociedad. The Basque outfit are currently slumped in eighth place in the league table, 14 points short of the fourth spot (incidentally occupied by rivals Athletic Club) that would lead to Champions League qualification.
La Real, however, have more then held their own in this season’s cup competitions. Imanol Alguacil’s team are in the last 16 of the Europa League as well as the final four of the Copa del Rey.
Victory over two legs against Real Madrid would be a season-defining moment for Real Sociedad who come into Wednesday’s game on the back of six wins in their last seven matches in all competitions. They have some momentum.
Real Madrid also have momentum behind them having backed up last week’s win over Manchester City in the Champions League win a home victory against Girona on Sunday.
An away win at the Anoeta would add more weight to the idea this could be a Treble-winning season for Los Blancos. At their best, they have the attacking firepower to beat anyone, but do they have a strong enough structure as a team?
Key players
Nobody has scored more goals for Real Sociedad this season than Takefusa Kubo. The Japanese has found the back of the net in two of his last three games and will be a threat coming in off the right wing against his former club.
While La Real have struggled for attacking firepower in LaLiga this season, scoring just 23 goals in 25 games, they have netted eight goals in their last two outings.
Mikel Oyarzabal come come back into the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the weekend win over Leganés. Igor Zubeldia might also replace Nayef Aguerd in the Real Sociedad backline.
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to field a full-strength team for the trip to the Basque County with Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior likely to feature in the attack.
Jude Bellingham could return to the lineup after missing the win over Girona through suspension while Fede Valverde might come back in after being rested over the weekend. This could push Luka Modrić back to the bench.
Team news
Luka Sučić, Hamari Traoré and Jon Pacheco will all miss the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Real Madrid through injury with Aguerd also set to be sidelined.
Zubeldia and Sheraldo Becker are available again after missing Sunday’s win over Leganés through suspension. Otherwise, Imanol has a strong squad of players and options to pick from.
Bellingham’s suspension only applies to matches in LaLiga, but Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal are both still injured, leaving Real Madrid somewhat short of defensive options.
Andriy Lunin has been Real Madrid’s Copa keeper so far this season and is expected to replace Thibaut Courtois for this match.
Prediction
Ancelotti’s side should come away with a lead that they can defend back at the Bernabéu in the second leg of this semi-final: Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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