After the international break, Real Madrid is set to return to La Liga action this Saturday against Real Sociedad. This match kicks off a busy week for the Spanish giants, who will also face Olympique Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Xabi Alonso`s squad travels to face Real Sociedad, currently holding the top spot in the La Liga standings with nine points alongside Athletic Club, having conceded only one goal in their first three matches. This encounter with Real Sociedad is crucial for assessing the team`s readiness for the upcoming European tournament, especially as coach Alonso will need to rotate his players to maintain competitiveness across fixtures occurring every three to four days, putting the squad`s depth under scrutiny.
Match Details and Betting Information
The highly anticipated match is scheduled for Saturday, September 13th, at 10:15 a.m. ET. It will take place at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta in San Sebastian, Spain. Betting odds favor Real Madrid at -164, with Real Sociedad at +419, and a draw at +318.
Consequently, significant attention will be on Franco Mastantuono, a summer acquisition from River Plate for approximately $40 million, widely regarded as one of global football`s most promising young talents. During the recent international break, Mastantuono notably represented Argentina, donning the iconic number ten jersey, a role typically reserved for Lionel Messi, who was absent from the final 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Ecuador. High expectations surround Mastantuono, particularly following the meteoric rise of Lamine Yamal at Barcelona in recent years, prompting speculation about whether he could become Real Madrid`s next breakthrough star. Nevertheless, Xabi Alonso understands the necessity of allowing Mastantuono sufficient time to acclimate to a new country, league, and team environment, where daily pressure will be immense. While a starting spot against Real Sociedad is less probable, he is expected to feature in the second half, building on his 151 minutes played across the first three La Liga matches of the season.
Anticipated Starting Lineups
Real Sociedad XI:
- Alex Remiro
- Jon Aramburu
- Igor Zubeldia
- Duje Caleta-Car
- Aihen Munoz
- Takefusa Kubo
- Pablo Marin
- Jon Gorrotxategi
- Ander Barrenetxea
- Mikel Oyarzabal
- Brais Mendez
Real Madrid XI:
- Thibaut Courtois
- Daniel Carvajal
- Eder Militao
- Dean Huijsen
- Alvaro Carreras
- Federico Valverde
- Aurelien Tchouameni
- Arda Guler
- Brahim Diaz
- Kylian Mbappe
- Vinicius Junior
