Real Madrid begin La Liga campaign at home to Real Sociedad

Real Madrid will welcome Real Sociedad to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, for a rearranged La Liga opening-day fixture, with new manager Jose Mourinho under pressure to deliver an immediate statement of intent.

Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 GMT in Madrid. The match will be shown on beIN Sports in France, DAZN LaLiga or Movistar+ in Spain, Canal+ Sport or SuperSport in sub-Saharan Africa, beIN Sports MENA in North Africa and the Middle East, ESPN+ or ESPN Deportes in the United States, Premier Sports or LaLigaTV in the United Kingdom, Eleven Sports in Belgium and Blue Sport in Switzerland.

Real Madrid come into the game after a hard-fought victory away to Espanyol on Saturday in the second round of La Liga. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, are still searching for their first win of the campaign after losing 1-0 to Betis on Friday.

The fixture brings together two clubs with a long-standing rivalry, although the historical record is heavily weighted in Real Madrid’s favour. Los Blancos have won 104 of the previous meetings, compared with 38 victories for Real Sociedad, while 43 matches have ended level.

Real Madrid have also lost only once in the past 10 meetings between the sides. Their record across that sequence is seven wins, two draws and one defeat, with the loss coming on 2 May 2023.

For Mourinho’s side, Wednesday’s match represents an early opportunity to respond to a 2025-26 season in which Barcelona dominated Spanish football. With FC Barcelona having strengthened their position by thrashing Elche on Tuesday evening, Real Madrid cannot afford to drop points in the opening stages of the new campaign.

The hosts are regarded as clear favourites at the Bernabeu. Their home form has been described as particularly impressive, while their attack is led by Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. The support of the Madrid crowd is expected to provide an additional advantage against a Real Sociedad side known for its competitiveness and collective strength.

Real Sociedad have traditionally struggled to impose themselves when visiting the Spanish capital, and the historical balance of the fixture again points towards a home victory. Africafoot’s prediction is a 3-0 win for Real Madrid.

The match is officially part of the first round of the Spanish championship, which has been rescheduled. Betting company 1xBet lists Real Madrid as the strong favourite, with the home side priced at 1.34 to win. A draw is offered at 5.20, while a Real Sociedad victory is valued at 7.00.

Match details

– Date: Wednesday, 26 August 2026 – Kick-off: 19:00 GMT – Venue: Bernabeu, Madrid – France: beIN Sports – Spain: DAZN LaLiga or Movistar+ – Sub-Saharan Africa: Canal+ Sport or SuperSport – North Africa and Middle East: beIN Sports MENA – United States: ESPN+ or ESPN Deportes – United Kingdom: Premier Sports or LaLigaTV – Belgium: Eleven Sports – Switzerland: Blue Sport