The final straight of LaLiga approaches and Real Madrid are firmly rooted at the top of the table with 12 matchdays remaining. This evening the Whites face a stern test against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu (9 pm CET) as Carlo Ancelotti’s men go in search of another three points ahead of their Champions League showdown on Wednesday. The draw between Alaves and Sevilla on Friday could give Madrid a great chance to extend their lead.
Madrid have managed to emerge victorious from many tricky encounters on recent occasions, as was the case in Vallecas last time out, and the side is on a six-game winning streak, keeping clean sheets in the last four outings. The madridistas are also the only side to have netted over 50 goals so far this league campaign.
Imanol Alguacil’s side are deeply entrenched in a battle for the European places and go into the weekend currently in sixth place on 44 points. Real Sociedad have clinched victory in their last two league games, against Osasuna and Mallorca, and Oyarzabal is the team’s top goal-scorer in the competition, with eight goals.
Carlo Ancelotti appeared in a press conference via video call at Real Madrid City on the day prior to our team's clash with Real Sociedad. He had the following to say: “The team is looking good, we've trained well and enjoyed this week to improve our physical condition. I see commitment and excitement around the place and we're ready for the final stretch of the season. We want to show that tomorrow against Real Sociedad, who are having a great season and play some good football. I'm feeling confident because the team looks in good shape".
"I feel good or bad depending on what I see. If the team is training well, my mood improves and I'm in an optimistic mood today because I've seen the team training very well. We're at the point of the season we wanted to be at. We're a little disappointed because we're out of the Copa del Rey, but it came at a time when Karim was injured and we were without the Brazilians", the boss added.
Four successive clean sheets: "The reality is that we have a 6-point lead in LaLiga, which is hugely important and we have to fight to the end, while we can recover from the slight deficit in the Champions League. The team is in good shape and we have the motivation and desire to do it. I should also underline we haven't conceded a goal in the league for the last four games, which just shows our solidity".
LaLiga : "You don't need as many points as before. That can be read in one of two ways - it's a more equal league, or the big teams have got worse. I think it's the first because there is high quality football, teams are well organised and there are clever coaches who focus on the finest details. The Spanish league has improved".
The team's physical condition: "Kroos rested in the Alavés game and it's not a question of fatigue, just sometimes you get a bit of bad luck and we have to live with injuries. It's an important part of the season and for the moment, the team doesn't have too many. Alaba was out for 7 days with his knock and Kroos will be 5 or 6. At this stage of the season, having these kinds of issues shows we've managed the squad well physically and we're believe we've done that".
"We haven't been perfect but we haven't done as badly as you may think. We've done a decent job and I'm happy with the work we've done alongside the medical team and the physios. Of course you can do better but it could have been a lot worse too. We have had injuries like every team and we've managed them pretty well".
Valverde and Kroos absences: “Valverde and Kroos won't be available for tomorrow. Valverde will have no problem for Wednesday and I don't think Kroos should either because it's a small issue that will be resolved quickly. They both trained up until the other day and I don't think they'll lose that in just a few days".
Alaba's recovery: “He returned to training with the team on Tuesday. He's fine and he'll certainly be playing tomorrow. I have a full squad available with the exceptions of Kroos and Valverde. We won't be altering the system, we just need to press more and that's it”.
Camavinga: “He's fine, excited and motivated. He's struggled a little bit more in the defensive midfield position because positioning and tactical awareness are hugely important. I made him play there because he is capable of it. In the centre of midfield he plays differently and can use his energy and quality on the ball. He's an option for tomorrow”.
PSG plan: “The plan we have been working on today is the one for Real Sociedad and I think it'll work nicely. Then we have another plan for PSG and we're excited and motivated to make sure it comes off as well. I'll pick the players who are available for PSG and the best possible line-up for that game once the Real Sociedad game is over".
Bale set to start: “He did well against Villarreal but Karim wasn't available. He will be tomorrow and I don't want to field a team thinking about the PSG game. Tomorrow is a final for us and I'll put out the best possible side".
Mbappé and Haaland: “I'm not going to discuss players who are not at Real Madrid. I like to talk about the players I have, not ones who aren't here".
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