Actual Madrid made it eight straight wins in La Liga as they wrapped up a 4-1 victory over Actual Sociedad on the Bernabéu on Saturday evening with two penalty objectives from Vinícius Júnior alongside strikes from Fede Valverde and Gonzalo García, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring from the penalty spot for the Basque facet.
1. Would Kylian Mbappé play?
“He’s high quality, he’s skilled with the group and is obtainable for tomorrow’s match,” Álvaro Arbeloa insisted on Saturday about his star ahead, but it surely was unsurprising that Kylian Mbappé was not among the many starters after not coaching late this week with a setback to the knee damage which dominated him out for a interval after the winter break. This was solely the fifth recreation this season through which Mbappé has not featured, however solely the third win, after the victories in opposition to Actual Betis and Atlético Madrid in January. With a troublesome Champions League go to to Lisbon to face Benfica on Tuesday, it was logical that the Frenchman can be reserved just for use if actually mandatory. His team-mates, notably those that carried the load in assault with Vinícius Júnior and Gonzalo García stepping up, ensured that his presence was not required.
2. Who would play at right-back?
Álvaro Arbeloa was requested final Saturday whether or not the returns of Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold may see Fede Valverde return to midfield, however replied coyly, saying, “I’ve all of the gamers at my disposal and I’ll use them in the way in which I believe is finest to win the match”, including that, “my goal is to consider which participant may give us the most effective efficiency in opposition to the opposition we face, and we’ve got many gamers who can play in numerous positions”. What few folks noticed coming final weekend in opposition to Valencia was the selection of David Jiménez. The 21-year-old defender was chosen for his fourth first-team look and he seemed snug, however Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Dani Carvajal in having a full week of coaching. It was the Englishman who bought the beginning, organising Gonzalo García’s opening strike with a pinpoint cross which seemed prefer it had been taken straight from his Liverpool spotlight’s reel. He was changed by Dani Carvajal on the hour mark for his longest stint on the sphere since September.
3. Might Actual Sociedad show a tough buyer?
Whereas Actual Sociedad did have the drawback of a midweek fixture, beating neighbours and rivals Athletic Membership 1-0 at San Mamés within the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, it did assist them to construct momentum. Solely La Actual can rival Actual Madrid’s league kind in 2026, with new coach Pellegrini Matarazzo main the staff to seven wins and two attracts in his first 9 video games in cost. Add that in to a facet who’ve taken two wins and three attracts from their final 9 visits to the Bernabéu, and this recreation was not going to be as straightforward as a median league fixture in opposition to a midtable facet. Actual Sociedad did trigger issues, as their 1.67 xG confirmed, however Actual Madrid outclassed them with the type of confidence of a facet who has received eight in a row within the league.
1. What number of penalties have Actual Madrid had this season?
With two penalties on the evening, Actual Madrid took their tally of spot kicks within the league this season to 13. That quantity is 4 greater than some other facet in Europe’s high 5 league video games this season, with Bayern Munich on 9 the subsequent highest. On the Bernabéu, Vinícius scored his second and third penalties of the season, having missed one other in opposition to Valencia in November, after successful each fouls himself. Rival followers will possible level to each choices, notably the latter, being tender, however in each instances there was contact, albeit with the Brazilian braced for impression within the second. With out Kylian Mbappé so as to add to his 11 penalty conversions this season, Vini stepped up and confirmed the type of composure that some had questioned whether or not or not he had.
2. When will Actual Madrid report consecutive clear sheets once more?
It’s now been 20 video games in all competitions with out Actual Madrid recording consecutive clear sheets, a stretch which extends all the way in which again to October, when Xabi Alonso’s facet beat Juventus and Getafe by 1-0 scorelines simply 72 hours aside. Right here, it was a slipshod penalty conceded by Dean Huijsen which allowed Mikel Oyarzabal to step up. It was one in every of solely three photographs on the right track, and the one one to really take a look at Thibaut Courtois, but it surely left Los Blancos with out their clear sheet and allows Atlético Madrid to retain the report of the most effective defensive stats in La Liga thus far this season, as Arbeloa’s facet now sit on 19 objectives conceded in 24 video games, in comparison with Atleti’s 18.
3. Is Gonzalo García appropriate with Kylian Mbappé?
At any time when we see Gonzalo García lead the road, he appears to shine, but when he performs alongside Kylian Mbappé, it’s usually pushed out huge and he has little impression. His tally for objectives in all competitions now sits at 10, throughout eight video games, all of which didn’t see Mbappé begin. Actually, in 5, together with Saturday evening’s win, Mbappé didn’t function in any respect. García could also be glad to play the Joselu function of the rotation choice and a task off the bench, however he might have to simply accept the function of being a dependable back-up. Proper now, that appears to swimsuit all events, however such roles are hardly ever sustainable long-term and he might must adapt to discover a method to be simply as highly effective when working alongside Mbappé and dealing collectively.
