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E-mail Xinhua, February 26, 2025
Real Sociedad entertains Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Wednesday night in a tie where Madrid is the favorite to play either FC Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the final.
The game comes with Real Madrid in arguably its best form of the season after knocking Manchester City out of the Champions League and a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Girona.
Vinicius Junior (C) of Real Madrid vies with Viktor Tsygankov (R) of Girona FC during the La Liga football match between Real Madrid and Girona FC in Madrid, Spain, on Feb. 23, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
But Real Sociedad has drastically improved its home form in recent months, with 11 wins from its last 13 games in the Reale Arena, and its last win was a comfortable 3-0 at home against Leganes, whom Real Madrid beat in the Copa quarterfinals.
Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil will be able to call on forwards, Sheraldo Becker and Take Kubo, who are both suspended for this weekend's game away to Barcelona.
Kubo scored his side's second goal against Leganes and Real Madrid would still take 50 percent of any profit from a future sale of its former player.
Jude Bellingham's suspension after his red card for swearing at referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero in Pamplona just over a week ago is only applicable in LaLiga and he will return to the side on Wednesday, with Brahim Diaz likely to step down to the subs' bench.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is also likely to make changes in his defense, with Antonio Rudiger back in action, while Fran Garcia steps in at left-back.
One player who looks likely to miss out is midfielder Fede Valverde, who was rested at the weekend with muscle fatigue and is also likely to rest on Wednesday.
"Bearing in mind the ridiculous calendar that we have, we are doing well," said Ancelotti in his pre-game press conference, in which he pointed out his side had played 17 games in the 50 days since the Christmas break.
"It's incredible, I feel tired, you (the press) are tired and from what I see and hear, we need a break," he added.
"Real Sociedad are always hard to play against, they are in a good moment of form, it's a semi-final and it is going to be a very competitive game, that's even and entertaining," said Ancelotti.
