Red-hot Madrid can tighten grip on La Liga title battle

Real Sociedad v Real Madrid LaLiga TV, 8pm

In early November Real Sociedad were the team to beat in La Liga, but less than one month later the Basque side’s title hopes are fading fast.

One win in their last four league fixtures has seen them drop to third and a defeat at the hands of red-hot leaders Real Madrid side this weekend would surely all but end their faint title hopes.

And given how Carlo Ancelotti’s men are performing right now, an away win looks the most likely outcome in San Sebastian.

Madrid have won their last seven matches in all competitions and they are making light work of a congested schedule.

Ancelotti’s squad is in good shape whereas Sociedad will be weakened in midfield with Mikel Merino and David Silva both set to miss out.

The hosts are also struggling to juggle domestic duties with a challenging Europa League section and Madrid can show why some bookmakers have trimmed them to 1-3 for the La Liga title.

Hoffenheim v Eintracht Frankfurt Kick-off 2.30pm

A frenetic 6-3 win over Greuther Furth last time out moved Hoffenheim to within two points of the top four in the Bundesliga and their superb run is unlikely to be halted by Eintracht Frankfurt.

That victory was Hoffenheim’s fourth in five matches in all competitions and they saw off Leipzig in their last home assignment as part of that run.

Oliver Glasner, meanwhile, is finding life at Frankfurt tough with the club in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga standings with only four league wins to their name this term.

They have seen an upturn in results recently but beating Hoffenheim, who are fully focused on their European pursuit, could prove a bridge too far.

This evening also sees the first Der Klassiker encounter of the season with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich clashing at the Signal Iduna Park.

Only one point separates the pacesetters heading into today’s game and both have their primary marksmen available with Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland set to lock horns.

Roma v Inter BT Sport 1, 5pm

Inter are another European heavyweight putting their title aspirations on the line this evening when they travel to the Stadio Olimpico to face Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

A pulsating 3-2 victory over leaders, and arguably their biggest title rivals, Napoli has sparked a four-match winning sequence for Inter, who are now only two points off top spot as they seek to defend the Scudetto.

Roma, meanwhile, have not looked right since being dismantled 6-1 by Norway’s Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League and have lost three of their last five league matches. The Wolves will also be without influential captain Lorenzo Pellegrini for the visit of the champions.

They are still in contention for a European berth but trail Inter by nine points in the Serie A standings and that gap could grow even wider in the Italian capital tonight.