Liga Preview: Real Sociedad-Real Madrid
The decline of Real Sociedad has been spectacular. After a barnstorming run to the very precipice of championship glory last season, the San Sebastian club have fallen like a stone to lie fourth from bottom of La Liga prior to the weekend's visit of the side that pipped them to the title last June, Real Madrid.
The decline of Real Sociedad has been spectacular. After a barnstorming run to the very precipice of championship glory last season, the San Sebastian club have fallen like a stone to lie fourth from bottom of La Liga prior to the weekend's visit of the side that pipped them to the title last June, Real Madrid.
Sociedad are two points off safety as they face into an uncertain 2004. The decline has been sharp if not completely unexpected. After all, look back at the table this time two years ago and nobody would have been surprised to see the Basques in the drop zone, such had been their true decline from the glory days of Luis Arconada and the early 1980s.
Furthermore, the poor league form, which includes six successive home matches without a win, has come at a time when the side has progressed from an awkward Champions League group. Strength in depth – or rather a lack of it – is the culprit. Throw in the natural low that follows coming so close but missing out on winning a title and you have the recipe for underachievement.
However, given the accepted truth that Sociedad overachieved last season, it may be more realistic to suggest they are finding their true level this season, even if that level isn't quite as bad as the current table suggests. Perhaps a more charitable analysis would be to suggest that the first XI of Sociedad merits a top eight place in La Liga when everybody is playing to full potential. This season, clearly, everybody has suffered.
FORM GUIDE
The home side haven't won at the Anoeta since October when Osasuna were beaten by a Darko Kovacevic strike. A lamentable run since has seen one win in ten league matches, and that only came last week after the squad had the Christmas break to mull over the very real threat of relegation. Indeed, the 2-1 success at Malaga gives Sociedad some momentum to take into the game against the side they absolutely trounced 4-2 at the same stadium last spring.
This was the game that finally confirmed for many that Real Madrid were a busted flush. All-out-attack just doesn't work. Romantics may have you believe otherwise, but there was no Champions League trophy at the Bernabeu in May, and there won't be one there this summer either unless defensive reinforcements arrive in the transfer window. True romantics were captivated not by Madrid's Galacticos but by Sociedad's rags-to-riches story of last season.
The attacking combination of journeyman Kovacevic and young Turk Nihat was a joy to behold. The playmaking of wily Russian Valery Karpin fed the attacking duo and offered a feast to all who watched the fiery mercenary turn back the clock with sublime midfield dictation.
Madrid have been battered here on their last two visits and find the Anoeta a difficult hunting ground, with only one win in their last five trips. Their own recent form has been very encouraging however, though last weekend's 1-0 success over Murcia owed little to inspired attacking play and resulted in sections of the crowd jeering Roberto Carlos for his perceived lack of focus.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
David Beckham will sit this one out for the visitors with an infected ankle wound. Coach Carlos Queiroz has to determine whether to use Guti or Solari as replacement. Sociedad will hope to keep last week's winning side together for Saturday night's clash.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Real Sociedad: Westerveld, López Rekarte, Schürrer, Kvarme, Potillon, Aranburu, Alkiza, Karpin, Gabilondo, Nihat, Kovacevic.
Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Pavón, Raúl Bravo, Helguera, Guti or Solari, Zidane, Figo, Raúl, Ronaldo.