Real Sociedad Vs Real Madrid
Real Sociedad Vs Real Madrid Sunday 20 September 2020 – 20:00 (GMT)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 17 September 2020)
Preview: It is rarely dull at Anoeta Stadium, but this is especially true when Real Madrid visit. The latter begin the defence of their La Liga title at the home of Real Sociedad and, if past meetings are a reliable gauge, we can expect a few goals in Sunday’s late kick-off.
Spanish La Liga Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
Real Sociedad Preview – La Real suffering from a lull under Alguacil?
In a game of few chances, and after falling behind six minutes before half-time, Real Sociedad could consider themselves mighty fortunate to have escaped Real Valladolid’s Jose Zorrilla stadium with a 1-1 draw. The hosts were the better side, generating three times as much xG (0.96) as the visitors who failed to create a single big chance and were ultimately grateful for a goalkeeping howler for their share of the spoils.
Moving on and it doesn’t get any easier anytime soon for Imanol Alguacil, the Sociedad manager who no longer appears to be getting the best out of these players. Results have waned for some time now, ever since the enforced break in March halted their useful momentum. Pre-lockdown their form read W5 L2, but across eleven games after the restart their form had dipped markedly to W2 D4 L5.
We should probably take last week for what it is, though, which was the first game following a difficult and draining 2019-20. Back on home soil this weekend, where they recorded more wins (W9 D4 L6) and 55 per cent of their overall points last season, we expect an improved display. And yet, their record inside Anoeta versus last season’s top-five was indifferent: W1 D2 L1. Their only such win against Atletico Madrid (2-0).
Real Madrid Preview – Zidane has full confidence in this group?
So impressive were his team over the course of last season, but particularly once action in La Liga resumed in June, that Zinedine Zidane has seemingly felt compelled enough to retain almost the entirety of the squad which secured the club its 34 league title, whilst not seeking to add to it either. The Frenchman’s supreme levels of confidence perhaps justified on account of Real Madrid’s exceptional post-lockdown form.
When play in La Liga got underway in June, Los Blancos knew they had work to do to rein in Barcelona. What they probably didn’t know was how assured and simplistic they would make it look, reeling off ten successive wins – six of those coming by way of a clean sheet – to comfortably regain a title which had eluded them in the past two seasons. They’ll start 2020-21 as 17/20 (888Sport) favourites to defend their crown.
Zidane’s imperious charges were the standout performers on the road in 2019-20, collecting at least four more points than anyone else. However, all three defeats would come away from home, and often when least expected, losing at Levante, Mallorca and Real Betis. They weren’t far off incurring a fourth on the final day either, drawing 2-2 in Leganes who were battling for their lives as Real were already in party mode.
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Real Sociedad Vs Real Madrid Betting Advice
If Zidane could have hand-picked a venue to begin Real Madrid‘s La Liga defence, I am not so sure he would have chosen a trip to Real Sociedad. The Anoeta is a banana skin venue for the top sides – most negotiate it without too much fuss in truth, but every so often a shock occurs here. That wasn’t the case in last season’s corresponding fixture, however, as Real deservedly ran out 2-1 victors in July (xG: SOC 0.51 – 1.3 RMA).
Real Sociedad Vs Real Madrid – Key Facts
- In six matches staged at home during post-lockdown, Real Sociedad produced only one win – against rock-bottom Espanyol – to collect five of 18 points (W1 D2 L3).
- No team in La Liga conceded less goals away from home in 2019-20 than Real Madrid (14 in 19 games), this despite keeping only two clean sheets in their final eight away matches.
- Real Madrid (W4 L1) have come out on top in four of their previous five visits to Real Sociedad in the league. Meanwhile, only one of the past eight meetings there failed to produce Over 2.5 Goals.
Real Madrid were irrepressible in the closing stages of last season, and are not as short for this as one would expect considering the ease in which they managed the hectic post-lockdown schedule (W10 D1). The visitors have also prevailed in four of the past five seasons here, while the last four featured a minimum of three goals. Sociedad will also be boosted by David Silva’s creative presence. 2-1 Real Madrid.
Best Betting Odds – Real Sociedad Vs Real Madrid
Real Sociedad – 18/5 (Betfair)
Draw – 3/1 (BetFred)
Real Madrid – 31/40 (Betway)
