Real Madrid: 3 advantages Los Blancos have against Real Sociedad

Real Madrid are the favorites against Real Sociedad for a few specific reasons.

Although Real Madrid have been one of the mightiest clubs in world football over the past two decades and are viewed as the world’s most prestigious team, they do not take their opponents lightly. Whenever they have done so, Real pay the price dearly, such as against their upcoming opponents, Real Sociedad, in the Copa del Rey.

La Real sliced apart Los Blancos’ backup defense a few months ago in the cup, with Martin Odegaard and Alexander Isak playing starring roles in the high-scoring matchup.

Sunday’s game at the Anoeta Stadium has even higher stakes for Madrid, because they need to win this game in order to win La Liga.

Here are three advantages Los Blancos have in this pivotal matchup on the road.

A much stronger defense

Real Sociedad have a tremendous attack, but they have question marks defensively. Only Valencia and Villarreal have allowed more goals than La Real among the top 10 teams in the La Liga table right now. They don’t have a single star player at center back, and only Nacho Monreal inspires confidence among their starters in the back four.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are a juggernaut defensively at a level that should even make Atletico Madrid envious. Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos are unstoppable in the center of the park, Thibaut Courtios put in another top-drawer performance against a big opponent on Thursday vs. Valencia, and the fullbacks are of little concern to Madridistas when everyone is healthy.