Real Sociedad - Real Madrid

Real Sociedad - Real Madrid

The two sides meet in La Liga for the first time in three years

Real Madrid return to league play on Saturday by traveling north for a visit to Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian. A win  will see the Whites move top in La Liga pending Sunday's round of action.

Real Madrid can put the icing on the cake on what has been a great week with a victory against Real Sociedad on Saturday. Last weekend the Whites defeated Osasuna 1-0 and subsequently opened up the Champions League with a 2-0 win against Ajax.

Tied in points and sitting on the same record of one win and one draw apiece, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid meet in league action for the first time in three years. The fact that Txuri-urdin are once again newcomers to Spain's top flight doesn't make them any less of a threat, at least according to Jose Mourinho. "Teams that are promoted from Segunda Division have the attitude and morale and confidence soaring through the roof after winning their league last year. I have watched their two previous games and I can say that they are very organized and defend well," said the Madridista coach during Friday's press conference.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
	P	W	D	L	GF	GA
Real Madrid	126	67	36	23	260	154
Real Sociedad	126	23	36	67	154	260

To get the job done, Mourinho can count on the services of Sergio Ramos, who has recovered from a bothersome left soleus muscle. Of note is the return of Xabi Alonso to his former stomping grounds. The midfielder spent seven seasons playing for Real Sociedad, his favorite team as a child.

Real Sociedad have returned to Primera with a vengeance, or so it appears having beaten Villarreal 1-0 and drawn at Almeria 2-2. Few changes are expected of Martin Lasarte with respect to last weekend's match. He will, however, have to decide between Llorente and Tamudo in attack and Griezmann and Sutil on the left flank. The only player out for the Donosti side is Diego Ifran.