20' Against no other side have Sociedad lost more LaLiga games than they have versus Real (83, level with Barcelona), while they have also conceded more goals against them than any other opponent in the competition (318).
18' BLOCK! Le Normand produces a crucial last-ditch block to deny Modric's right-footed effort inside the area. Initially, Isco had done well to spin and turn before offloading for the Croatian to shoot.
17' A deflected cross by Mendy causes all sorts of problems inside Sociedad's area as neither Le Normand or Zubeldia can figure out how to clear the bouncing ball. Fortunately for the visitors, Asensio is on his heels and cannot capitalise at the back post.
16' Monreal and Oyarzabal are exchanging a few words with the referee as they are clearly disappointed with his decision to award a goal-kick, given it looks like it came off Vazquez last. Nevertheless, Courtois gets things back underway with a long strike down the middle of the park.
15' CHANCE! Vazquez ventures down the right-hand side before crossing towards the head of Isco, who miscues his effort slightly and that allows the ball to trickle into the hands of Remiro. The first opportunity of the game falls to the home side but the Spaniard never looked like scoring with his head from that sort of angle.
14' Silva leads the visitors' counter-attacking charge but at the final moment overhits his pass to the incoming Oyarzabal. Isak's pace appears to be causing Varane problems so far and the Frenchman looks in some discomfort every time the striker gets a pass played over the top.
12' Vazquez has time and space to reach the byline, crossing towards the far post, where Isco just gets slightly ahead of it as he mistimes his run. Possession then falls to the feet of Casemiro and Sociedad are beginning to find it tricky to get out of their own half.
11' Madrid are one victory away from equalling their best winning streak in LaLiga this campaign (they won their first five games in December), while they are enjoying their best streak of games without conceding this season in the competition (three, going 312 minutes without conceding since a goal by Javi Galan for Huesca).
10' Kroos plays the resulting set-piece short to Modric, who loops a left-footed cross towards the back post. Casemiro attempts to volley but Le Normand blocks with his chest in front of Remiro's goal.
9' Guevara tries to be too clever in possession and manages to give the ball away inside his own final third. Nacho then goes over under the pressure of Silva, which offers Madrid a free-kick in a decent position on the left-hand touchline.
8' Mendy invites the tackle of Portu, who duly obliges by needlessly fouling the French left-back. While it is only a free-kick in their own half, it does offer Zidane's men a chance to relax after a fairly good start from Sociedad.
7' Monreal gets bundled over in the area after latching onto an Oyarzabal pass, however, the referee blows for offside before he can even consider whether it would have been a penalty or not.
6' Alguacil's men press high and are rewarded for their efforts as they dispossess Mendy deep inside the hosts' half. Monreal goes venturing forward after a short passage of play but opts to, rather sensibly, play backwards in the end.
5' In the early stages of this game it appears the hosts are playing more of a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Modric sitting behind Mariano and Isco, who are acting as split strikers up top.
3' Asensio produces a delightful touch to bring down a drilled pass by Vazquez but the Spanish forward then fails to find the run of Modric in the area and it trickles out for a goal-kick.
2' The home side are yet to touch the ball as the visitors move possession from side to side with real authority. When Zidane's side do finally win it back, a loose pass by Modric in midfield nearly causes problems before Casemiro intervenes.
1' Referee Jesus Gil Manzano blows his whistle to start this LaLiga fixture!
The players are making their way out the tunnel and shortly it will be time for kick-off.
Madrid have won 10 of their last 11 home matches against Sociedad in LaLiga (L1), including three wins in three home games against them under Zidane (scoring an average of 3.7 goals per game).
After Sociedad’s European outing in Manchester, Imanol Alguacil opts for four changes and reverts from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1. Monreal and Le Normand come in at the back, while further forward David Silva and Portu are the other two additions to the starting eleven.
Zinedine Zidane decides to make one alteration to the starting line-up that faced Atalanta in the Champions League. Isco will move out wide to make room for Mariano through the middle. Marcelo is fit enough for the bench after recovering from injury, however, Karim Benzema doesn’t make the squad, perhaps with the Madrid derby in mind next week.
SUBS: Carlos Fernandez, Ander Barrenetxea, Aihen Munoz, Martin Merquelanz, Roberto Lopez, Jon Guridi, Unai Marrero, Modibo Sagnan, Adnan Januzaj, Urko Gonzalez, Jon Bautista.
REAL SOCIEDAD (4-2-3-1): Alex Remiro; Andoni Gorosabel, Igor Zubeldia, Robin Le Normand, Nacho Monreal; Ander Guevara, Martin Zubimendi; Portu, David Silva, Mikel Oyarzabal; Alexander Isak.
SUBS: Federico Valverde, Diego Altube, Rodrygo, Sergio Arribas, Alvaro Odriozola, Hugo Duro, Marcelo, Vinicius Junior, Andriy Lunin, Victor Chust.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Lucas Vasquez, Nacho, Raphael Varane, Ferland Mendy; Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric; Marco Asensio, Isco, Mariano.
After being dumped out of the Europa League emphatically by Manchester United, the visitors focus will switch to the Spanish top-flight, in which they sit fifth. The hosts, who are second, three points behind Atletico Madrid, will be looking to make it five straight league wins here.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the LaLiga fixture between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.
