Real Madrid are flying high after taking down Manchester City in a revenge-minded penalty shootout victory in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at the Etihad Stadium and then beating arch rivals Barcelona 3-2 in El Clasico, courtesy of more cardiotoxic action from first-year Clasico icon Jude Bellingham.
This Friday night, Real Madrid will take center stage again in another high-octane LaLiga matchup against last season’s top-four finishers Real Sociedad, who are always almighty at the Anoeta.
Here is a predicted starting lineup for Real Madrid on Matchday 33 of LaLiga against Takefusa Kubo’s hungry La Real side.
Defense
GK Andriy Lunin
LB Ferland Mendy
CB Antonio Rudiger
CB Aurelien Tchouameni
RB Dani Carvajal
Ferland Mendy hasn’t been a regular starter in defense, and while his days with Real Madrid appear to be numbered, manager Carlo Ancelotti has always been a fan of the Frenchman. His defensive prowess could be needed against Takefusa Kubo.
Aurelien Tchoumanie isn’t a center back by trade, but he has been legitimately one of the best center backs in the world this season since transitioning to defense out of necessity. He, Dani Carvajal, and Andriy Lunin are all potential LaLiga Team of the Season starters.
Midfield
CM Toni Kroos
CM Luka Modric
CM Fede Valverde
Luka Modric has found starting opportunities harder to come by in 2023/24, but the Croatian magician is still one of the best midfielders in European football, quietly notching two goals and four assists, including some key game-changing plays.
He and Toni Kroos have always been excellent against Real Sociedad. This fluid midfield three should be too much for even Real Sociedad’s technicians to handle, and they are a great counterweight to what Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi offer in the middle of the park.
Fede Valverde is having a sensational season and has more passes in the final third than anyone in Spanish football. He is a sneaky Man of the Match candidate with his energy on both sides of the ball. Don’t be surprised if he scores a cracker from range, too.
Attack
LW Vinicius Junior
CF Jude Bellingham
RW Rodrygo Goes
Jude Bellingham has been the main man in the attacking midfield for Real Madrid this season, and his 17th goal of the season against Barcelona puts him just one behind Girona star striker Artem Dovbyk in the Pichichi race.
Look for him to play off the dynamic duo of Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior. As the season wraps up, it feels like this elite trio is starting to kick into another gear with the Champions League on the line. If they get hot early against Real Sociedad, this one could be a blowout with a couple of braces in the cards for this incomparable trident.