By Karl Matchett
Carlo Ancelotti’s balancing act
With the Uefa Tremendous Cup already within the bag, Actual Madrid misplaced out on an opportunity to make it two trophies from two with the Spanish Supercopa over the winter. Nevertheless, they’re within the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, the quarter-finals of the Champions League and within the prime two of LaLiga, it might nonetheless be an enormous and historic season for Los Blancos in the event that they preserve momentum and keep lucky with health.
With so many video games nonetheless to play it hasn’t been a shock to see Carlo Ancelotti shuffle his pack a bit – Vinícius Júnior, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo have been all used off the bench on the weekend. Following this match although it’s Valencia and Arsenal arising so possibilities to relaxation or rotate additional would possibly turn out to be extra sparse – however within the cup there’s no margin for error.
All or nothing for La Actual
Whereas Madrid are chasing every part, Actual Sociedad have let their season drift and that is last-chance saloon for it to be a worthwhile one – or to play in Europe subsequent time period. A six-match winless streak was a minimum of ended on the weekend however La Actual are out of the Europa League and misplaced the primary leg of this tie 1-0 at residence a month in the past. Sat in tenth within the league, they have to go all-in to trigger an enormous shock right here or else their marketing campaign successfully ends in early April.
Latest kind
5 wins in a row for Madrid, and one “residence workforce” defeat since 5 November – however even that was really a impartial venue used to host the Supercup last in opposition to Barcelona. The one groups La Actual have crushed away from residence in 2025 are Ponferradina within the cup and Midtjylland in Europe. This will likely be powerful.
Group information
Three long-term accidents and two doubts for Actual Madrid. Dani Ceballos most likely gained’t play anyway, however Thibaut Courtois might in concept be pushed if he’s deemed shut sufficient, given it’s a semi-final. Nevertheless since Andrii Lunin has performed within the Copa to date it will be a shock to see any dangers taken in aim.
For La Actual, Brais Méndez, Nayef Aguerd, Sheraldo Becker and Arsen Zakharyan are all out, with Jon Pacheco the opposite doubt within the squad.
Key participant
Actual Madrid don’t must go all weapons blazing right here and might bide their time, which suggests Antonio Rüdiger preserving the ship regular will likely be precedence primary on the again whereas the attackers await their second to pounce. The German doesn’t essentially win a complete lot of his duels (2.8 per 90 on the bottom and solely 57% of his aerials) so he might have an enchancment on the night time there, but it surely’s actually his restoration operating and organisation of others the place Los Blancos profit most.
Prediction
Dwelling benefit and a first-leg lead skews the tie massively in Actual Madrid’s favour and Los Blancos are unlikely to let this second slip. Actual Madrid 2-1 Actual Sociedad (3-1 agg).
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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