The Santiago Bernabéu is set to host its first competitive match of the 2026/27 campaign tonight as Real Madrid welcome Imanol Alguacil’s Real Sociedad. Following their dramatic 2-1 away win against Espanyol last weekend, José Mourinho’s men aim to make it six points from six in front of the home crowd.
However, squad depth will be put to an immediate test, with Los Blancos forced to navigate injuries to key defensive and attacking options.
Tactical Breakdown & Predicted Lineups
Mourinho is expected to field a dynamic 4-2-3-1 structure, leaning on the creative pairing of Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler behind Kylian Mbappé, while Real Sociedad counter with a dense mid-block engineered by Carlos Soler and Yangel Herrera.
REAL MADRID (4-2-3-1) REAL SOCIEDAD (4-2-3-1)
Mbappé Oyarzabal
Vinícius -- Bellingham -- Güler Barrenetxea -- Sučić -- Kubo
Bernardo Silva -- Valverde Herrera -- Soler
Cucurella - Huijsen - Konaté - Arnold S. Gómez - Martín - Zubeldia - Aramburu
Courtois Remiro
| Sector | Real Madrid Expected XI | Real Sociedad Expected XI |
| Goalkeeper | Thibaut Courtois | Álex Remiro |
| Defense | Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella | Jon Aramburu, Igor Zubeldia, Jon Martín, Sergio Gómez |
| Double Pivot | Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva | Yangel Herrera, Carlos Soler |
| Attacking Midfield | Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior | Takefusa Kubo, Luka Sučić, Ander Barrenetxea |
| Center Forward | Kylian Mbappé | Mikel Oyarzabal (C) |
Key Match Talking Points
- Defensive Shuffle: With Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy ruled out alongside Rodrygo, summer additions Ibrahima Konaté and Dean Huijsen look set to anchor the central defense, with Marc Cucurella operating on the left flank.
- The Kubo Factor: Former Madridista Takefusa Kubo remains Real Sociedad’s primary wide outlet, challenging Cucurella on the counter-attack.
- Engine Room Decision: While Bernardo Silva and Valverde are favored to build from the back, Eduardo Camavinga stands ready to add physical presence if Mourinho opts for a defensive lock.
The RMxtra Verdict
Securing three points at home in Mourinho’s Bernabéu return is non-negotiable. With Real Sociedad built to disrupt tempo in central areas, quick transitions through Güler and Vinícius will be vital to unlock the Basque backline early.