Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid starting lineup against Real Sociedad
It’s a big one tonight in La Liga as Real Madrid host third-placed Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti’s men are under heavy pressure from Barcelona after the Catalans’ went six points clear at the top of the table after their 0-1 win vs Girona yesterday.
Consequentially, he has taken no risk with his starting lineup for this game, opting to go with the best possible XI at his disposal. With David Alaba still injured, Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger start in central defence.
Nacho flanks them on the right, but with Ferland Mendy, Daniel Carvajal, and Lucas Vazquez sidelined, Eduardo Camavinga has been handed the keys to the left-back spot. Thibaut Courtois holds the fort in goal.
Luka Modric has been rested, with Ancelotti favouring the services of in-form Dani Ceballos in that role. Federico Valverde also starts in the centre of the park, and the midfield is rounded off by Toni Kroos as the #6.
Rodrygo came off the bench to score against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, and has been awarded with a start tonight, at the right-wing. Vinicius Jr, and Karim Benzema unsurprisingly retain their places at left-wing and #9, respectively.
📋✅ Our starting 𝗫𝗜 🆚 @RealSociedadEN! #RealMadridRealSociedad pic.twitter.com/DfOwpMRG3V
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 29, 2023
Official Madrid XI: Courtois; Nacho, Militao, Rudiger, Camavinga; Valverde, Kroos, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid locker room angry with Barcelona midfielder’s ‘unsportsmanlike’ behaviour – report
While the evident frustration among the Real Madrid players was quite visible following the recent 1-2 defeat against Barcelona, the feeling of vexation was not really limited on the field.
Journalist Mario Cortegana, while writing for The Athletic, has confirmed that once the players got into the dressing room, the environment had an air of anger and frustration.
Players from each team had a go at each other right till the end, especially the likes of Dani Carvajal and Arnau Tenas, who had to be separated by several members from both teams.
Interestingly, before the aforementioned incident, Barcelona midfielder Gavi was already causing some trouble on the field. The youngster did not shy away from putting his body on the line throughout the game and it annoyed Madrid players to the extreme.
First, he pushed Carvajal in one incident and after that, he entangled himself in an off-the-ball clash with Dani Ceballos. The Madrid midfielder first had a collision with Robert Lewandowski and as the game moved on, Gavi made note of the incident.
During the run of play, Gavi pushed Ceballos with his shoulder and it did not settle well with the Madrid players and manager Carlo Ancelotti. The players and the manager were disturbed by Gavi’s behaviour and considered it ‘unsportsmanlike’.
On the other hand, there was frustration involving refereeing decisions as well. It must be remembered that in the 82nd minute, Marco Asensio found the back of the net to send the Madrid fans into a frenzy.
The celebration, however, was cut short as VAR disallowed the goal for an extremely tight offside. “We are sad, frustrated,” a dressing room source told The Athletic. “What happened? A guy looking at a TV in Madrid has decided La Liga.”
Ancelotti, on his part, said: “The disallowed goal? I don’t know, I really don’t know. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m leaving with this doubt. If the VAR is sure.”
“I leave this match very proud. I don’t think we deserved to lose today,” he added.
