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San Sebastian, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) – Real Madrid will be aiming to hit top gear when it travels to the Anoeta to face Real Sociedad on Sunday.
The Merengues claimed a 2-0 victory over Cordoba in their La Liga opener on Monday, though it proved to be a rather pedestrian performance.
Despite making high-profile additions in Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez in the summer transfer window, Real Madrid clung to Karim Benzema’s strike at the half-hour mark before Cristiano Ronaldo added an insurance goal at the death.
The performance did not earn the approval of the home supporters as many of the Bernabeu faithful whistled sarcastically in the final stages of the contest.
And while it’s still early days in the long club season, Real Madrid will be hoping to bounce back with a more encouraging display complete with three points against a Real Sociedad side that suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Eibar on Sunday.
It may not be easy for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, though. To make way for Kroos and Rodriguez, the club parted ways with Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso, placing additional pressure on the team to jell quickly.
Real Madrid enters the second round of fixtures second-fiddle to Barcelona in the La Liga table on goal difference.
The Catalans opened the Luis Enrique era with a 3-0 defeat of Elche on Sunday as Lionel Messi led the way with a brace, but debutante Munir El Haddadi stole the headlines by starting the match and nabbing a goal. The 18-year-old will hope that the positive outing will lead to more first-team opportunities, particularly against Villarreal at El Madrigal on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, Deportivo La Coruna will host Rayo Vallecano while Granada will head to the Martinez Valero to face Elche.
Reigning league champion Atletico Madrid has already secured silverware this season as the club edged Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup last week. Atletico’s La Liga campaign, however, began with a scoreless stalemate at Rayo Vallecano. Los Rojiblancos will hope to get their first league win when they take on Eibar at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday.
Sevilla, meanwhile, was undone by a late equalizer in its 1-1 draw with Valencia last Saturday. The club will hope to close out its meeting with Espanyol with all three points in tact on Saturday.
Elsewhere in Saturday’s La Liga slate, Athletic Bilbao will host Levante at San Mames while newly-promoted Cordoba will welcome Celta Vigo to the Nuevo Arcangel.
Friday’s action saw Getafe claim a 1-0 home win over Almeria behind a first- half strike from Alvaro Vazquez while Valencia made easy work of 10-man Malaga in a 3-0 win at the Mestalla.