3 things Real Madrid must do in order to beat Real Sociedad

Real Madrid has been playing very well lately. Their attacking play is top-notch and the midfielders are having some great performances. But the defense? It is shaky and too scary at the moment. Los Blancos have been lucky against Athletic Club, but I don’t think that it’ll work against Real Sociedad, Inter Milan, or Atletico Madrid (oh that just scares me).

The next three games and the most important ones. Madrid need a win against Real Sociedad- the team currently at third position and chasing Real Madrid at the top as a team hungry for the league title, a win or at least a draw against Inter Milan- the team who will try its best to beat us and come at top of the group stage, and a win against Atletico Madrid- the defending champions and the team coming back to its best.

In the post-match press conference, Carlo Ancelotti said “It’s not luck that we’ve won seven matches in a row.”

Carlo Ancelotti is a man who makes headlines with what he says in the press conferences. I hate to say this, but I don’t agree with the manager on this. Not at all. Haven’t we been lucky in the last match? Wasn’t Athletic Bilbao’s poor run of form one of the reasons for the victory? What should I say now? A win’s a win, that’s all? It doesn’t work that way and Carlo Ancelotti knows that too. So, what is it that Carlo Ancelotti needs to improve upon with Real Sociedad in just two days?

Rotations at the Central Midfield position:

This is necessary, to be honest. The midfield trio has played 4 consecutive crucial games now and has played some great football together. But they are desperately in need of rest and why wouldn’t they? Luka Modric is 36, Kroos is 31 and Casemiro is 29.

Carlo Ancelotti is trying his best in giving Luka Modric and Toni Kroos some rest by substituting them when he thinks is the right time. But is Casemiro getting enough rest? I don’t think so.

Casemiro has played full 90 minutes in each of the previous 7 consecutive league matches which is very tiring and we have all noticed that in his performances lately. His passing has been wayward, he is not that focused defensively, and most importantly he has made enough blunders to gift goals to the opposition.

But there is something most important we need to talk about. We all know how crucial Casemiro’s presence is in the midfield irrespective of his run of form. And that is a very good reason to rest Casemiro against Real Sociedad. The Brazilian has 4 yellow cards in his name and another booking can very well suspend him against Atletico Madrid. This is the last thing Real Madrid would want at the moment.

Antonio Blanco is a very good replacement for Casemiro in the long run, and I think Carlo Ancelotti might be inclined towards giving him an opportunity against Real Sociedad.

So, I think a midfield of Blanco, Kroos, and Modric will be good enough for a win against Real Sociedad while keeping in mind the risk factor for the Madrid Derby next week. Also, Carlo Ancelotti must have this in mind to give Modric and Kroos some rest to recover from tiredness.