Real Madrid name unchanged XI for delayed Real Sociedad fixture

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has kept faith with the starting line-up that defeated Espanyol as his side prepare to face Real Sociedad in a delayed La Liga match.

Real Madrid are hosting Real Sociedad in the rearranged fixture, which was originally scheduled as part of the opening round of the league season. Mourinho has selected an attacking side led by Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, with no changes from the team that started the previous league game.

Thibaut Courtois will start in goal, behind a defence consisting of Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras.

Federico Valverde and Bernardo Silva will operate in midfield, with Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham also included in the four-man midfield group.

Vinicius Junior and Mbappe have been named as the two forwards.

Real Madrid’s starting line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois

Defenders: Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras

Midfielders: Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham

Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe

The substitutes are Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre, Eduardo Camavinga, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Cucurella, Carlos Espejo, Brahim Diaz, Antonio Rudiger, Yan Diomande, Jorge Ciestro, Mario Rivas and Alexis Seria.

Mourinho’s decision means the same group that secured a 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the start of this week will be asked to maintain Real Madrid’s challenge at the top of the table. That result came in the second round of La Liga and extended the club’s winning start to the campaign.

The fixture with Real Sociedad is being played after La Liga authorities postponed four matches from the first round. The decision was taken because players from the affected clubs were involved with the Spain national team at the World Cup.

Real Madrid have the opportunity to move level with the current leaders if they win. Sevilla and Real Betis occupy the top two positions, with both clubs having collected six points from two victories.

Real Sociedad arrive in Madrid looking to recover from a narrow defeat in their previous outing. They were beaten 1-0 by Real Betis, leaving them with the task of responding against a Real Madrid side that has already registered a win in its latest league appearance.

With Vinicius Junior and Mbappe retained in attack, Real Madrid will look to convert their strong start into another three points and close the gap on Sevilla and Real Betis.