Madrid: Real Madrid will go top of La Liga if they can overcome Real Sociedad on Sunday night. FC Barcelona’s 0-0 draw with Sevilla gave Zinedine Zidane’s side an opportunity to change their own destiny.
Winning in the Reale Arena on Sunday would see them overtake Barca on goal difference. Madrid have returned to action on form with a 3-0 win at home to Valencia following a 3-1 triumph against Eibar.
Using the 3-month hiatus to reactivate his team, Zidane now has more available options. Marco Asensio highlighted those options in Thursday’s triumph over Valencia when he scored with his first kick of the season after recovering from a knee operation last summer, while Eden Hazard has also used the three-month lay-off to recover from an ankle injury. Real Madrid’s head coach now has an enviable choice of the Belgian, Asensio, Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez, Vinicius Jr, Gareth Bale and Rodrygo in attack. Real Sociedad don’t have those options, but coach Imanol Aguacil could be tempted to start Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who was so effective as the Basque side knocked Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey 4-3 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in February.
‘La Real’ have only taken one point from a possible six on their return to action, dropping from fourth to sixth. Sunday sees a further two games with Celta Vigo looking for three desperately needed points at home to Alaves, while Valencia need a win at home to Osasuna to get their European hopes back. (PTI)
