Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad Prediction: Injury-Ravaged Los Blancos Seek to Maintain Title Challenge

Match Details:

• Competition: La Liga (Matchday 24)
• Date: Friday, February 14, 2026
• Kick-off: 20:00 CET (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET)
• Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
• TV Coverage: ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ (USA) / Premier Sports (UK)

Current Form Analysis

Real Madrid: Champions Fighting Through Unprecedented Injury Crisis

Real Madrid currently sit 2nd in La Liga with 57 points from 23 matches (18 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses), trailing Barcelona by just 4 points. Under interim manager Álvaro Arbeloa, Los Blancos have shown resilience with seven consecutive La Liga victories, but face their most challenging injury crisis in recent memory.

Current La Liga Standing:

• Position: 2nd place
• Points: 57 from 23 matches
• Record: 18-3-2
• Goals Scored: 47
• Goals Conceded: 18
• Goal Difference: +29

Recent Results:

• February 8: Valencia 0-2 Real Madrid - Mbappé and Carreras secure away win
• January 24: Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid - Mbappé brace extends winning streak
• Seven consecutive La Liga victories

The Catastrophic Injury Crisis:

Manager Álvaro Arbeloa faces the worst injury situation in Real Madrid's recent history, with NINE first-team players unavailable for this crucial fixture:

Confirmed Out:

• Éder Militão (hamstring/tendon - out until mid-February/early March) - Defensive rock sidelined
• Jude Bellingham (hamstring - out until early March) - Key midfielder missing
• Rodrygo (hamstring tendinosis - 10+ days out) - Just diagnosed, major blow
• Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh - partial training, close to return) - Right-back depth missing
• Ferland Mendy (calf - unavailable) - Left-back sidelined
• Antonio Rüdiger (knee - on bench vs Valencia, not 100% fit) - Defensive leader compromised
• Aurélien Tchouaméni (yellow card suspension vs Benfica first leg) - Suspended for Champions League
• Raúl Asencio (suspended - red card vs Benfica Jan 28) - Young defender banned

Rodrygo's Latest Blow:

Real Madrid released an official statement confirming Rodrygo has tendinosis in his right hamstring and will miss significant time. Reports suggest approximately 10 days minimum, potentially longer.

This comes at the worst possible moment - Rodrygo had just found form with 4 goals and 1 assist in 5 games to close 2025/start 2026 before being sidelined.

Key Performers:

• Kylian Mbappé - 22 goals in 21 matches, 65% of Real's goal output
• Vinícius Júnior - Brazilian winger providing creativity
• Federico Valverde - Versatile performer covering multiple positions
• Álvaro Carreras - Scored debut goal vs Valencia

Real Sociedad: Mid-Table Struggles Under Matarazzo

Real Sociedad currently occupy 8th position with 31 points from 23 matches (8 wins, 7 draws, 8 losses), experiencing a disappointing season far below their European qualification ambitions. Manager Pellegrino Matarazzo faces mounting pressure as La Real struggle for consistency.

Current La Liga Standing:

• Position: 8th place
• Points: 31 from 23 matches
• Record: 8-7-8
• Goals Scored: 33
• Goals Conceded: 31
• Goal Difference: +2

Comprehensive Injury Crisis:

Real Sociedad face their own significant injury problems:

• Brais Méndez (suspension - yellow card accumulation) - Key midfielder suspended
• Ander Barrenetxea (strain - muscular injury, lacks mobility) - Winger unavailable
• Arsen Zakharyan (injury - unavailable)
• Luka Sučić (muscular injury vs Elche - left match injured) - January 25 injury
• Takefusa Kubo (ankle problems - chronic issues) - Star playmaker doubtful
• Unai Marrero (injury - unavailable)

Key Performers:

• Mikel Oyarzabal - Captain leading attack
• Takefusa Kubo - If fit, creative threat (doubtful)
• Sheraldo Becker - Scoring threat

Head-to-Head Record

Overall Record:

• Real Madrid Wins: 24
• Real Sociedad Wins: 5
• Draws: 5

Most Recent Meeting:

• September 13, 2025: Real Sociedad 1-2 Real Madrid (at Anoeta Stadium)
• Goals: Mbappé, Arda Güler for Real Madrid
• Madrid won with 10 men

Our Prediction: Real Madrid 3-0 Real Sociedad

Despite unprecedented injury crisis, Madrid's home advantage, Mbappé's form (22 goals), and seven-game winning streak suggest comfortable victory against mid-table opposition missing key players.

Follow All La Liga Drama with Sky247 NG!

Visit https://ng.sky247.net/ today!