Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad at the Anoeta Stadium on Sunday. Here are three individual battles to watch closely.
The 2020-2021 La Liga season will begin on Sunday night for Real Madrid at the Anoeta Stadium against Real Sociedad, a team they defeated twice in the league last season. But Los Blancos also fell to La Real in the Copa del Rey behind a brace from striker Alexander Isak.
Here are three key individual matchups for Madridistas to monitor on Matchday 2.
Real Madrid CB Raphael Varane vs. Real Sociedad ST Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak is a name Real Madrid fans are undoubtedly familiar with after what he did to the Royal Whites in the Copa del Rey earlier this year. The former Borussia Dortmund man is one of the most talented, confident young strikers in Europe and has the tools to become a 20-goal striker in La Liga. He’s that good.
Defending a striker like Isak is a team effort, but Raphael Varane will be the key man for Madrid. Varane is so good at tracking runs and winning in the air, with the latter being especially important against Isak. Astute positionally, Isak can cause problems off the ball when he’s locked in, and he won’t be short on motivation against Real Madrid this Sunday.
But Varane also has his own point to prove after his struggles against Manchester City the last time he stepped foot onto the pitch.