Real Madrid will end the La Liga season in second place, with Barcelona having already wrapped up the title. Real Sociedad are out of the race for European qualification ahead of the final day.
Yet this is still a significant game as Carlo Ancelotti gets ready to take charge of Real Madrid for the last time. Will he sign off with a win?
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad best bets
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad odds
Find the latest Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad predictions
Carlo Ancelotti will take his leave as Real Madrid manager after this weekend’s meeting with Real Sociedad.
The experienced Italian is on his way to South America to take charge of the Brazil national team. He will officially depart the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 26, with Xabi Alonso set to take charge of Madrid at the Club World Cup next month.
The Blancos have fallen short on all fronts this term. They will finish second in La Liga behind Barcelona, who beat them in the Copa del Rey final a few weeks back. Most disappointing of all was Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League by Arsenal at the quarter-final stage.
Overall, though, Ancelotti will depart with his head held high. He has been hugely successful across two spells in the Spanish capital.
In the first, Ancelotti led Madrid to their 10th Champions League trophy in 2014. Since returning to the club in 2021, he has won a couple of La Liga titles and another two Champions Leagues. On top of all that, Ancelotti has taken Madrid to Copa del Rey glory on two occasions. That is quite a record.
With the benefit of hindsight, Ancelotti must wonder whether he should have called it a day after winning the Champions League and La Liga double last season.
The manager no doubt believed he could repeat the trick this time around, especially with Kylian Mbappe added to an already star-studded squad. But things have not gone to plan.
Barcelona deserve huge credit for depriving Madrid of the two biggest domestic prizes, but the Blancos have clearly gone backwards compared to 2023/24.
Mbappe has scored plenty of goals, so it is hard to point the finger of blame at him as an individual, but his arrival has undoubtedly made Madrid less cohesive and more unbalanced. That is a problem Alonso has to solve – and he may have to do so by selling one of the club’s galacticos.
Questions like that will begin to be asked next week. For now, it is all about giving Ancelotti the send-off he deserves.
Madrid have organised a special tribute to one of their greatest ever managers, but the best way to bid farewell to Ancelotti would be with a dominant performance on the pitch.
1
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad betting tips
Real Madrid meet Real Sociedad on the final day of the 2024/25 La Liga season.
Real Madrid/Real Madrid half-time/full-time
Real Sociedad have had a disappointing season. Having been European regulars in recent years, la Real have taken a step backwards this term.
Imanol Alguacil’s side are 11th in the table and they will finish in the bottom half if they lose at the Bernabeu on the final weekend.
Real Sociedad have faded in recent weeks with just two points from the last 18 on offer. That is not ideal preparation for an away game against Madrid.
Ancelotti is the sort of manager who is always popular with players, and his Madrid charges will be determined to help him end his tenure with a win.
This should be a comfortable home victory.
⚽ Pick Real Madrid/Real Madrid at half-time/full-time at evens with Midnite ⚽
Both teams to score
With nothing meaningful on the line for either team, both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad could play with a degree of freedom in this one.
Concentration might not be as high as it would be in a must-win match, which could work in the favour of the attacking players.
It is certainly difficult to imagine Madrid drawing a blank in front of their own supporters at the Bernabeu.
Real Sociedad have failed to score in five of their last six matches, so this is by no means a sure-fire selection.
On balance, though, we like their chances of making the net ripple against a patched-up Madrid backline.
⚽Back both teams to score with Tote ⚽
Kylian Mbappe to score any time
Mbappe was on target in midweek as Real Madrid ran out 2-0 winners over Sevilla in their penultimate game of the campaign.
That took his tally for the La Liga season to 29 goals, four more than his closest competitor Robert Lewandowski.
Mbappe will almost certainly win the Pichichi award no matter what happens this weekend, but he will still be keen to sign off on a high.
Despite his own individual record, Mbappe has been criticised by sections of the Madrid fan base this term.
The Frenchman can respond by doing what he does best against Real Sociedad.
⚽ Go for Kylian Mbappe to score any time at 4/6 with Betfred ⚽
📺 How to watch Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad
- Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain.
- Date and time: Sunday 25th May, 3.15pm.
- How to watch: LALIGATV.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
