Spanish La Liga
2025-05-24 - Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad
A Sports Betting Pick by Gladiator
Football: Spanish La Liga - Round 38
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid), Spain
Saturday, 24th May 2025 - Kick Off 16:15 CET
Real Madrid
Saturday marks the end of an era at the Santiago Bernabéu as legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti prepares to bid farewell to the Real Madrid faithful. Already the most decorated coach in the club’s history with 15 major trophies, Ancelotti will want to leave with a final flourish despite finishing second in La Liga behind arch-rivals Barcelona.
Los Blancos have shown strong finishing form, winning back-to-back league matches, and will aim to give their fans something to cheer about in their final home outing. Real Madrid have also won their last three league games at home, but defensive frailties persist with several key players still sidelined.
Interestingly, their last six league matches at the Bernabéu were all decided by a single goal, pointing to a habit of tight finishes despite their attacking firepower. Ancelotti also boasts an unbeaten home record against Sociedad, which he’ll be eager to preserve in his final game in charge.
Real Sociedad
It’s also a farewell occasion for Real Sociedad, who part ways with long-time manager Imanol Alguacil after a disappointing season that saw them miss out on European football for the first time since 2018/19. Although they picked up a dramatic 3-2 win over Girona last weekend, that late burst of form came too late after a damaging six-match winless run.
Away form has been a significant issue, with just one win in their last ten La Liga road games. Still, La Real proved they can compete with Madrid after a thrilling 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals here in April, when they were even leading 4-3 after 90 minutes. That performance will give them some belief, especially with young talents like Pablo Marín making a substantial impact. Expect Sociedad to give this one everything as they close a chapter under Alguacil.
The Betting Verdict
With both clubs bidding emotional farewells to iconic managers, an open and attacking match looks likely. Real Madrid should have the upper hand given their superior quality and form, but their defensive absences continue to leave gaps that can be exploited, as seen in the 4-4 cup thriller just weeks ago.
Sociedad have little to lose and could play with freedom in their final game under Alguacil. Given Madrid’s attacking depth and Sociedad’s ability to trouble them at the Bernabéu, backing both teams to score seems the smart play here. Expect a goal-laden affair with Madrid ultimately coming out on top.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Real Madrid 3-1 Real Sociedad
