MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM

Sociedad face test of credentials against in-form Real

REAL Sociedad meet Real Madrid today with the chance to reassert their stiring start to the season and press home their case as genuine contenders for La Liga’s top four.

They head to the Santiago Bernabeu sitting two points behind Real and as the league’s surviving surprise package after Granada’s fairytale opening has dissipated following three consecutive defeats.

Real Sociedad have so far avoided a similar reality check, even if their latest three games before the international break showed some signs of strain.

They were held by Leganes, who are rooted to the bottom of the table, two weeks after losing at home to struggling Levante, who had then sat 13th.

“I went into the dressing room and it looked like a funeral,” said coach Imanol Alguacil after the draw against Leganes.

Around those slips were narrow wins over Celta Vigo and Granada, each achieved with goals in the last 10 minutes, which could be seen as evidence of a ruthless streak or a double stroke of luck.

Yet their lofty position is welldeserved. Real Sociedad have arguably been the most fluid, freeflowing side in the division so far, more entertaining to watch than Barcelona and with fewer goals conceded too.

They have frightened opponents with their pace and bullied them with their intensity.

In Martin Odegaard, they boast perhaps the most impressive creative midfielder of the season and while the 20-year-old is on loan from Real, he will be allowed to face his parent club, presumably with a point to prove.

“When you see him in training and when he plays, you realise he is a special player,” said Nacho Monreal this week, signed from Arsenal last summer. “He has found the right place to play and we work around him.”

Mikel Oyarzabal’s touch, craft and dazzling feet makes it easy to see why he continues to be linked with Europe’s elite clubs even if the freedom he enjoys also owes a debt to the energy of Mikel Merino and Zubeldia behind him.

Oyarzabal has four goals, along with Portu, while Willian Jose has five.

They face a Real side who were finding their rhythm before the international break, after playing five games without conceding a single goal and winning four of them while scoring 16.

Since Oct 5, Gareth Bale has not played for his club once but represented his country four times and, if selected, it remains to be seen how the Real fans react after the way he celebrated Wales’ qualification for Euro 2020.

Zinedine Zidane will know his team cannot afford distractions.

They sit behind Barcelona on goal difference and ahead of Atletico Madrid by a point. Barca are away at Leganes earlier today, while Atletico visit Granada. Sevilla, in fourth, travel to Real Valladolid tomorrow.