Real Real Sociedad Live
Leana Eckes
Nothing just yet from Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who I was hoping we would've heard from by now. We'll have his post-match comments covered on AS USA and they'll be dropped in here once they are out there.
With the fixture schedule set to ramp up significantly in the next few weeks, Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping his team can stop falling behind in games and start recording more comfortable victories. The chances are they won't keep getting away with it (even if they are called Real Madrid).
This was Real Sociedad's first defeat of the season, yet they find themselves in the bottom half of the standings. Of course, the season is in its very early stages and they will undoubtedly climb the table if they perform as they did in the first half at the Bernabu.
Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid's 100% winning start to the season means they find themselves top of the table,two points clear of arch rivals Barcelona, who were held to a draw in the opening game of their campaign by Getafe. They started 2022-23 in similar fashion before fading away, however, so they won't be getting too carried away.
Until that chance, there had been absolutely nothing happening in attack for La Real, I can't emphasise that enough. They have made a triple change, which I think is the right decision, they need something to happen. Sadiq, Cho and Zakharyan all on, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea and Mndez go off.
That was the chance for the visitors! Mndez plays a great ball in behind Carvajal for Barrenetxea, whose touch allows Kepa to claw the ball away. It falls to Oyarzabal, who has hardly been involved in the game and won't want to see this one again, wildly slicing high and wide.
Fran Garca is unchallenged on the left and hangs up an inviting cross to the back post, which Joselu expertly heads down into the bottom corner. You don't get much simpler than that.
Real Sociedad's longest spells of possession have come in this second period, even though it's just a few minutes old. This latest passage of play looks certain to lead to a shot from Barrenetxea, who lines one up from the edge of the box but sees it closed down.
Kubo is really doing his bit to show Real Madrid what they could've had. A superb pass for Barrenetxea for the only goal, while Merino really should have scored from another ball into the box from the Japanese.
It's not all bad news for Real Madrid, however, as Jude Bellingham picked up his LaLiga EA Sports player of the month award before kick off. The hosts could do with him finding his magic touch in front of goal in the second half.
Madrid responded well to the setback and immediately went in search of an equaliser, forcing Alex Remiro into a number of stops, with Rodrygo, Carvajal and Joselu all denied. The latter of the trio probably should have scored rather than hitting the bar, although it was far from being one-way traffic.
Ooooooh. That was a close one. Rodrygo nips past Tierney, who sprints back to try and nick the ball back off the winger in the box. The Brazilian goes down but the referee says there's nothing doing.
It's not all one-way traffic though. Kubo has got the bit between his teeth and again comes in from the right, forcing Kepa into making a low save. The rebound falls to Barrenetxea, who blazes wildly over!
Alex Remiro has been a brick wall so far. Le Normand makes a mistake and allows Rodrygo to run in on goal, but the goalkeeper makes another fine stop to keep his team ahead!
Carvajal wins the ball high up the field, lays it on a plate for Joselu, who chips it up against the bar. It falls back to Carvajal, who crosses to the back post, where Rodrygo acrobatically volleys well, well wide.
Oh my word. Kubo scored what looks to be a brilliant goal, cutting in from the right and finding the far corner, only for the ball to take the tiniest of nicks off of Oyarzabal, who is offside. A huge let off for Madrid!
Plenty of promise from Madrid despite their poor start. Rodrygo drifts inside from the left this time and shoots from the edge of the box, only for it to be blocked before it troubles Merino.
What a start! Kubo picks a superb pass through the heart of the Madrid defence to Barrenetxea, whose first effort is saved by Kepa. It falls back to him though and he bundles it over the line from close range!
Just in case you missed it yesterday, Barcelona absolutely took Real Betis apart in Montjuic, running out 5-0 winners. That's four wins on the spin for Xavi Hernndez's side, who are starting to hit top gear, with their summer signings fitting in nicely.
Even though they've won every game, Real Madrid are actually in second spot in the standings behind Barcelona. The Catalans, however, have played a game more than their rivals, which means Los Blancos will go back to the top of the table with a victory over Real Sociedad.
While Real Sociedad's start to the season hasn't been as impressive as Real Madrid's, the Basque side are also unbeaten. However, they drew their opening three fixtures (at home to Girona and Celta, away to Las Palmas) and posted their first victory against Granada, winning an eight-goal thriller 5-3.
The 2-0 win at Athletic on the opening weekend has arguably been their most impressive performance, as they rather ground out subsequent victories over Almera, Celta and Getafe rather than by blowing any of them away. Los Blancos have long been known for their ability to emerge triumphant without playing superbly well and that has been no different in the early weeks of the campaign.
Real Sociedad have also arrived at the Bernabu (just as well) and their players have entered the scene in true "elite soccer team" fashion by refusing to speak to one another. These things have got to be done properly, after all.
Rodrygo scored on the opening weekend of the season against Athletic Club but hasn't found the net since, which hasn't been an issue for Real Madrid given Bellingham's superb scoring run. But with compatriot Vincius out injured, the Brazilian will be expected to step up to the plate and may be asked to play a slightly different role by Carlo Ancelotti.
Real Madrid and their man-of-the-moment Jude Bellingham are in the house! Nacho has already got his hands on that Champions League trophy, which the Englishman will be desperate to do before too long.
Japanese star Take Kubo signed for Real Madrid in 2019 but didn't play a single game for Los Blancos, spending time on loan at Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe before joining Real Sociedad last year.
One piece of good news for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is that Dani Ceballos has recovered from his fitness issues. However, Los Blancos are incredibly well stacked in midfield, with the former Betis man now likely to be seventh choice to play from the start (behind Kroos, Valverde, Tchouamni, Modric, Camavinga and Bellingham).
Of course, it's not just Vincius who is out of action for Real Madrid. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and central defender Eder Milito, two of the first names on the team sheet, incredibly suffered ACL tears within days of each other in August and could miss the whole season We have yet to see Turkish wonderkid Arda Gler because of a knee problem, while left-back Ferland Mendy is closing in on a return but isn't quite ready to play yet.
The Champions League begins on Wednesday, which is great news for us fans but means participating clubs are set for a gruelling schedule between now and Christmas. Real Madrid haven't been helped by the fact they have a number of injuries to contend with, and they now have a run of seven games coming up in the next 21 or 22 days, which makes Vincius' absence all the harder to take.
Vincius Jnior has arguably been Real Madrid's most dangerous attacking player over the last few years, although he has been overshadowed by Jude Bellingham in the first few weeks of this season. That said, Carlo Ancelotti would absolutely not want to have lost the Brazilian winger, especially with Los Blancos relatively light in attack.
The bad news is that Vincius is likely to be absent for at least another few weeks, which is a bit of an issue with games starting to come thick and fast as a result of the Champions League getting underway (more on that in a second).
Jude Bellingham arrived at Real Madrid to much fanfare in the summer. He scored on his debut in pre-season and in his first competitive appearance against Athletic Club. He then bagged a brace against Almera and netted late winners against Celta and Getafe, that latter strike coming on his Bernabu debut. For good measure, Bellingham then also scored for England against Scotland in midweek.
Real Madrid put their perfect start to the new season on the line in a tricky-looking home clash against Real Sociedad, who will, of course, be lining up alongside their somewhat more illustrious opponents in the Champions League this season.
Imanol Alguacil's side put in what looked like the best team performance of the season but it was not to be. "If there is a way to lose, then I prefer it to be like this", said Oyarzabal at full-time, his face was as you would imagine it to be, with his bottom lip almost touching the floor.
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