Three talking points ahead of Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid | Copa del Rey | OneFootball

The Copa del Rey is not a competition where Real Madrid boasts the greatest of records over the years. After all, it was seen as a secondary objective for long at the club with La Liga and the UEFA Champions League being the top priorities.

This season, however, the men in white have given the competition all they have got and are now in the semi-final stage of the event. At this point, however, the format changes.

So far, the Spanish Cup was played as a single-game knockout competition in every round. For the semi-final, it will be played over two legs with the winner on aggregate progressing to the finale.

For Real Madrid, the first of the two legs of the Copa del Rey semi-final approaches tomorrow night as they travel to the Basque country to take on Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena.

The reverse fixture will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the objective tomorrow will thus be to take home a favourable result with no deficit to chase.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid.

Capitalizing on the draw

Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid all three seldom make it to the semifinal stage of the Copa del Rey together. This year, in that sense, is special.

With all three Spanish giants in the running for the title even at the final-four stage, it was inevitable that two of them face each other in the semi-final.

As it turned out in the draw, it was Real Madrid who escaped as Barcelona and Los Rojiblancos will face off over two legs for one spot in the final. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, meanwhile were paired up with Real Sociedad in the draw.

When compared with the two other opponents the men in white could have been drawn up against, La Real are a less threatening opposition and it is clear that Real Madrid have the odds on their side to qualify.

With their UEFA Champions League path looking gruellingly difficult, it is thus critical that the men in white capitalize on the relatively easier path to the final in the Spanish Cup starting tomorrow night.

Real Sociedad are in no way an easy opponent to get past and have proved time and time again this season how they are not scared of putting their best foot forward irrespective of the opposition.

In a campaign where the schedule has been as complicated as it has this season, however, even facing the mighty Basque side has to be taken as a favorable draw and the team must carve out a win without much costs involved.

An ironical defensive dilemma

Will Antonio Rudiger start? (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

The ongoing season has been complicated for Ancelotti on many fronts and it is clear that he has had to work hard to keep his side competitive despite the setbacks.

The biggest of those setbacks, by far, was the central defensive crisis they experienced earlier this month especially given how they had to face the likes of Manchester City with Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez out injured.

Despite having the pressure on their shoulders, Raul Asencio and Aurelien Tchouameni did well to keep the team in the game and the former, in particular, stood out for his maturity and leadership.

With Rudiger and Alaba back fit and ready to start now, the manager thus faces a sudden dilemma as to which two of the three defenders to start tomorrow. From an acute shortage of options to having surplus availability, the tables have turned quite rapidly.

Rudiger was rested for the team’s last game and it was the Alaba-Asencio combination that did exceedingly well against Girona.

Considering that the German is a non-negotiable starter, which one of Asencio and Alaba will Ancelotti opt to drop from the lineup?

Should Modric start again?

Luka Modric, at his age, does not start often for Real Madrid across all competitions. So far this season, he has just nine starts in 24 La Liga appearances and has played only five of the team’s ten UEFA Champions League games from the first whistle.

The club captain was given a rare start in the team’s recent clash against Girona in La Liga, with Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde both not starting.

His performance against Michel’s side, however, oozed with quality through and through and left the manager with a big question over the midfield selection once more.

In 86 minutes against the Catalan side, the Croatian veteran had a staggering 126 touches of the ball and completed 103 of his 112 passes. He provided seven accurate long balls, a staggering six key passes, and created one big chance on the night.

His biggest contribution, by far, was the jaw-dropping golazo he scored to put his team ahead in the first half. In many ways, his goal sealed Real Madrid’s win and dominance on the field.

Given his recent world-class display and the obvious quality in his boots, should Ancelotti persist with Modric as a starter tomorrow night in the Copa del Rey? Or should Dani Ceballos return to the lineup at his expense?

Only time will tell what Ancelotti’s game plan tailored against Real Sociedad has in store.