Ronaldo returns as Real Madrid kick off La Liga campaign
Last season’s middling squad Real Sociedad is scheduled to open its 2016-2017 La Liga season against the reigning UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid FC at the Anoeta Stadium today.
Real is reportedly welcoming back the injured three-time Ballon d’Or awardee Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Karim Benzema, who is rumored to be coming off the bench as newcomer Alvaro Morata, who was bought back from Juventus this summer, is being developed as a future star by head coach Zinedine Zidane.
Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos and the rest of the other familiar names at the Bernabéu will also be available and so a lopsided decision is expected.
Real Sociedad spent the offseason effectively as the team had only lost once in their 10 preseason friendlies, which was a 0-2 defeat in the hands of Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena last Friday, as per Soccerway.
Head coach Eusebio Sacristán will return for his second season with Txuriurdin and is said to be eager to improve on his squad’s ninth place finish in 2015-2016.
The team added three players this summer with signings Juanmi from Southampton, Willian Jose from Deportivo Maldonado, and goalkeeper Toño Ramirez from AEK Larnaca. The team had lost Brazilian striker Jonathas to Rubin Kazan while Eneko Capilla and Alberto de la Bella are sent on loan to Numancia and Olympiacos respectively.
However, Sacristán and his crew are not favored to win their seasonopener this weekend as they are facing arguably the best team in the world right now, Real Madrid, and his host of superstar footballers.
Zidane will manage his first full season with Los Blancos this time after taking over from the sacked Rafa Benitez in the middle of last term. His success in the recent Champions League indicates that the Spanish capital city squad will again be one of the top contenders for this season’s domestic to flight crown.
Player movements are a minimum at Real, except for Morata and the acquisition of Marco Asensio from Espanyol. Forward Jese was sold to Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Real concluded its preseason with a 5-3 friendly victory over Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims on Tuesday at the Bernabéu.
Real Sociedad starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Rulli; C. Martinez, Gonzalez, I. Martinez, Berchiche; Illarramendi, Bergara, Prieto, Vela; Juanmi, Agirretxe
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Navas; Danilo, Nacho, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Rodriguez; Bale, Morata, Ronaldo