Real Madrid failed to win the first league game of the new season. On a visit to Real Sociedad the team of coach Zinédine Zidane failed to score and stayed at 0-0. The visitors didn’t get into trouble for a moment, but found it difficult to make chances themselves.

On the Real Madrid side, Eden Hazard, Isco and Marco Asensio were missing. Zidane had reserved a base place for Martin Ödegaard, who returned early from his rental period with Real Sociedad. Against his former club, he played together in midfield with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric as number ten. At Real Sociedad, David Silva made his comeback in LaLiga. The midfielder, taken over from Manchester City, started on the bench, but came within the lines in the second half.

Zidane won’t have been dissatisfied with the first half. His team didn’t score yet, but playing soccer was the Royal the parent party. Karim Benzema got two good opportunities, while on the other side of the pitch Thibaut Courtois scored a goal from Real Sociedad. Against the odds the home side could have got the lead, but Alexander Isak was unable to score face to face with the Belgian keeper. Even after the break the best opportunities were for Real Madrid, although for a long time they lacked big chances.

Real Sociedad had things in order in the back and Real Madrid’s attack did not allow any chances. The reigning champion therefore tried it with shots from distance. Dani Carvajal and Benzema put goalkeeper Alejandro Ramiro in trouble, but no more than that. Fifteen minutes before time substitute Marvin had a great chance to shoot Real Madrid ahead. After good preparatory work by Benzema and Vinícius Júnior, the talent failed to control the ball well, leaving Sociedad behind.

Time ticked away in favour of Real Sociedad, which did little in attacking terms. Forces were flowing away from the visitors and great opportunities could no longer be noted. Real Madrid thus failed to win the first game of the season. However, for the twelfth year in a row it remains unbeaten at the start of the new year.