Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad [La Liga Day 18: 01/06/13 16:00 EST] - [R]

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad

January 6, 2013

4 PM EST

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu

Referee: Ignacio Iglesias

Pepe, Marcelo, Coentrao, Albiol out due to injury, and Ramos out due to suspension. Gonzalo is back from a spell on the sidelines, so hopefully he'll quickly get back to his goal scoring form and maybe light a fire under Karim's ass. Obviously, the big question will be if Mourinho goes back to Iker between the sticks, or he sticks with Adan.

Real Madrid have not picked up all 3 points the past 2 La Liga matches, and have won just four of their last 9 matches in all competitions. With that said, we're currently in the midst of a 20-game unbeaten run at the Bernabeu. On the flip side, Real Sociedad are on an 8 game unbeaten streak (4 wins, 4 ties) in all competition, so they are not going to be walked over. However they have lost their past 7 games at the Bernabeu.

Squad:

GK: Iker, Adan & Jesus Fedz ; Defense: Varane, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Nacho & Llorente.

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Khedira, Özil, Essien, Modric, Callejon, Di Maria & Kaka ;

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain & Benzema.

I'll leave you with this quote that I saw on twitter from the great Santiago Bernabeu himself: "Real Madrid shirt is white, can be stained with mud, sweat even with blood but never with shame".

HALA MADRID!

ESPN says 8am PST?

Time to wake up for those lazy Californians.

Hopefully Pipa will start

The game starts at 5:00 PM CET (11:00 AM in New York).

New year, fresh start and all that jazz....

Subs for the mid-season renaissance

Noises from the Madrid camp suggest Adan is starting

http://www.marca.com/2013/01/06/en/football/real_madrid/1357460333.html

early game today... I'll be able to watch it for a bit!

I like Mourinho's goal for 2013, to win every game

Lineups should be out soon

Casillas is on the bench again

you can't be serious......

************************. Way to hold a ********ing grudge forever Mourinho

Adán, Essien, Varane, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Alonso, Khedira, Callejón, Özil, Ronaldo, Benzema

wow get ********ed Jose seriously get ********ed

I forgot we played at home today. It'll be very interesting to see the Ultras reaction.

Oleee ole ole ooleee oleeeee oleeee... New Year, new start! Although I've never seen our defense with so many injuries, I have a good feeling about this game.

Where is Ramos? injured or on the bench?

How do you bench our captain and one of our best players in history two games in a row

Seriously how?

Jose can get ********ed I just dont care anymore

I don't see a reason to be hysterical. The second leg Cup game vs Celta on Wed. is far more important than this one. Casillas will start on Wednesday

Suspended

Yeah because goal keepers have such a hard job fitness wise. If it was so important it would make more sense to get Casillas some match fitness

I remember people saying Mourinho had no balls and would never bench him at home............



.......... well, you're wrong.


Let's hope Adan doesn't have a howler.

well now I hope he takes those balls elsewhere and has a go playing in traffic

At least Di Maria is not starting this one, needs to take a long look at himself that kid, been dreadful this season.

Guy like to prove he's numero uno and don't care about anyones opinion. Pretty much why I've come to dislike him. It's more about him than what's best for the club

Suspended