Real Madrid v Real Sociedad Betting Tips: Basque outfit not to be discounted at Bernabéu

Having failed to make it through in the Copa del Rey during the week, both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad will be looking to bounce back when they meet each other at The Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night.

After going unbeaten for no less than 40 matches, the Real Madrid train, that looked as though it was speeding towards the title, has been derailed in recent weeks. Firstly, Zidane’s men came unstuck away to Sevilla, before losing at home against Celta in the cup just three days later. A narrow 2-1 victory against Málaga and a 2-2 draw away at Celta in their most recent fixtures hardly paints the hosts in a great light either and it’s safe to say that Madrid are on the slide right now.

Sociedad might have also exited the Copa del Rey during the week, but they acquitted themselves very well against a rampant Barcelona side at Camp Nou, finding the net twice in the process.

Given their form right now, the home side, as is often the case even when they’re in good shape, are far too short. If there’s a good time to face the Spanish giants, then it’s probably now. With this in mind, there are a few selections favouring the visiting team that are worthy of support.

Quite frankly, 16/5 on ‘Real Sociedad Win/Draw Double Chance’ is too good too miss. Not only are Sociedad a very good side, but, with Madrid missing key players (Modric, Bale and Carvajal are all out) during their time of need, it looks as though luck might also be with the visitors here. Eusebio Sacristán’s team might have lost four times on the road this season, but they’ve only tasted defeat once in their last six away matches and it is fair to say that fixture was somewhat of a freak occurrence.

Only the current top-3 have scored more goals than Sociedad – who’ve netted 15, failing to score just once – away from home this season, while they’ve conceded just a single goal in their last three away trips in La Liga.

Madrid’s current predicament has seen them concede far more goals than you’d normally associate with Los Blancos. Having failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last five matches (all-competitions), the hosts have conceded no less than nine goals during that time and have looked very shaky at the back.

Defending poorly has certainly been the theme for Madrid recently, but conceding goals after the break seems to be their speciality, not just of late, but in general. 11 of the 16 goals that they’ve conceded have come in the second 45. On top of this, nine of the last ten that Zidane’s side have let in (all-competitions) were scored after the interval. Keeping this in mind, ‘Sociedad to Score Over 0.5 Second Half Goals’, at 7/5, makes plenty of appeal. The fact that the visiting team have scored seven of their last eight after the break also bodes well.

Last but certainly not least, Sociedad’s Brazilian centre-forward Willian José really catches the eye as an anytime goal-scorer at 3/1. The visitors’ number 12 has scored no less than nine La Liga goals this season – a tally that can only be bettered by four players – and is likely to be a central figure in any attacking moves his side can conjure. Having found the net against Barcelona during the week, the striker is likely to be in good-spirits and, given the way Madrid have defended lately, has an excellent opportunity to reach double figures here.

All things considered, if ever there was a time to oppose Madrid at home in a fixture they’d normally be expected to win then this might just be it. At the prices, Sociedad are fancied to take advantage and can keep Los Blancos down in the doldrums for a just a bit longer.