Real Madrid travels to Donosti today to face Real Sociedad with its mind already set on the Champions League semi-final match, on Tuesday in Germany against Bayern, but without forgetting that it has eleven points ahead of Barcelona with six games remaining. and that with seven more points the alirón will sing in a mathematical way. In the best case scenario for his interests it could be next week, in which he receives Cádiz.
The match is coming to the whites without leaving behind the controversies of the last classic, which was what was the focus of Carlo Ancelotti’s press conference in Valdebebas yesterday. When the Madrid coach was asked what he thought of Barcelona taking the matter to the ordinary courts, he commented: “I have nothing to add. They are opinions and words are carried away by the wind.”
Then, Ancelotti elaborated on whether he would like the match to be repeated: “It’s an opinion and I don’t give an opinion about opinions. I don’t mind what’s being said. We have such good feelings now that everything that happens in the environment does not affect us at all.” The Madrid coach positively valued Xavi’s continuity on the Barça bench: “Xavi has done a good job and it seems like a correct decision for him to continue,” he stated.
Madrid will make several rotations in Anoeta, but Ancelotti refrained from giving clues about the eleven. Jude Bellingham, suffering from gastroenteritis, has been dropped from the squad, and Ferland Mendy is still out, still overloaded. In the expedition to Donosti there are no Castilla youth players, but it is believed that unusual footballers will have minutes, such as Militao, Arda Güler, Nacho, Fran García, Joselu or Ceballos. Kepa may also play.
Ancelotti announced that Courtois is now recovered and that he could have his first minutes on Saturday of next week against Cádiz. The goalkeeper broke his cruciate in the summer.
The Anoeta game has been a bit of a chore for the whites in recent years. Of the last five visits to San Sebastián, only twice did they return to Madrid with the three points.
In Zubieta the week has had everything. The positive part has been the return of Brais Méndez to training and his subsequent inclusion in the squad. However, yesterday Kieran Tierney’s muscle injury became known, and he will have to stop again. A loss that joins those already known of Aihen Muñoz, Hamari Traoré and Carlos Fernández.
Imanol Alguacil also has two of their key men available: Martín Zubimendi and Igor Zubeldia will return after having served a suspension match against Getafe.
Since Real was promoted to the First Division in 2010, there have been thirteen matches that the whites have played in San Sebastian: eight were Real Madrid victories, two were draws and three were local victories.
