Real Madrid handed two San Sebastian and Bilbao tests in four-day December spell

La Liga has confirmed a new date for Real Madrid’s postponed meeting with Real Sociedad, giving the Spanish giants a demanding sequence of fixtures in December.

The match, originally scheduled for February, will now be played on Wednesday, 2 December at 19:00 at Real Sociedad’s stadium, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

The rearranged fixture is from the 23rd round of the league season and will begin a difficult period for Real Madrid, with a trip to San Sebastian followed by another demanding away match in Bilbao only a few days later.

Real Madrid are due to face Athletic Bilbao during the weekend of 5 and 6 December, meaning the two matches will be played within four days. Both venues are regarded among the most difficult grounds in Spain for visiting teams.

At Real Sociedad, Real Madrid will encounter a side renowned for its resilience at home. The next fixture, at San Mames, will bring the additional challenge of facing Athletic Bilbao in an atmosphere traditionally associated with intense pressure on visiting teams.

The schedule will therefore test not only Real Madrid’s performances in two difficult away games, but also the depth of the squad and its ability to cope with successive matches.

Why the fixture was brought forward

The date change involving Real Sociedad and Real Madrid, along with the rearrangement of Barcelona’s match against Atletico Madrid, is linked to the Spanish Super Cup.

The four clubs involved are scheduled to compete in the tournament during the first week of February. The Spanish Super Cup will take place in Istanbul from 2 to 6 February, so their league fixtures in round 23 have been moved to avoid a clash with the competition.

As a result, Real Madrid’s visit to Real Sociedad will be played several months earlier than originally planned. The new arrangement means the club’s December calendar will include two high-level away assignments in quick succession, with the second coming at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames.

The exact weekend date for the Athletic Bilbao fixture is given as 5 or 6 December, while Real Sociedad’s meeting with Real Madrid has been fixed for Wednesday, 2 December at 19:00.