Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Bernabeu Stadium

I wonder how often Jude Bellingham and Kieran Tierney end up occupying the same space.

Tierney has already gone inside his centre-half following the movement of Joselu, whilst Bellingham has moved to the Real right looking for space, something Carlo Ancelotti thinks he is really good at.

Lovely move!

David Alaba sprints through the Sociedad defence and plays an intricate one-two with Jude Bellingham.

He can't beat Alex Remiro from close range but the flag was up anyway.

Sociedad have been pressing the hosts from the off and are charging the Madrid defence down when they dawdle on the ball. Kepa has just been forced to launch the ball out for a throw-in.

Sociedad get things started.

There is a minute's silence at the Bernabeu before kick-off.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Bernabeu Stadium

It is a while since I was lucky enough to come here - long before the rebuild.

It was good before. It is phenomenal now.

Just shows you what a vision (and quite a bit of money) can do.

Manchester United should be aiming for something like this.

Image source, BBC Sport

The teams are out at the Bernabeu.

Who will come out on top in this one? Hit the thumb's up for Real Madrid, or the thumb's down for Sociedad.

Jude Bellingham may have become a household name across England for his performances for the Three Lions over recent years but Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes he was an unknown quantity before his move to La Liga.

"He wasn't widely known because he played in the German league and he didn't have the role he has now," Ancelotti said. "He's playing in an important league and at an important club. He's doing very well and I'm not surprised.

"He's very serious, focused and professional. I don't think he's the type of player who will let it go to his head if someone praises him.

"He has the ability to get to the opponent's box early and threaten. We talked about him in pre season and he's good in this position. He shows consistency and he has great physical strength.

"I don't know how many goals he can score, but he has to maintain this consistency because he helps us a lot in our attacking play."

Image source, Getty Images

Takefusa Kubo netted twice during Real Sociedad's 5-3 triumph over Granada last time out, their first win of the season.

Sociedad's Kubo now has 18 goals in 133 LaLiga appearances, making him the outright top Japanese goalscorer in the history of the competition (Takashi Inui, 16 goals in 166 appearances).

Image source, Getty Images

Both sides will have a view to their midweek action with the Champions League returning in the coming days.

Real Madrid host Union Berlin Wednesday evening, while Real Sociedad host last season's runners-up Inter Milan.

Sociedad's fourth-place finish in La Liga last season secured their return to the Champions League after a ten-year absence.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Bernabéu Stadium

I was lucky enough to see Real Madrid a couple of times in pre-season.

There weren’t that many Jude Bellingham shirts in the United States.

That has changed now. I saw loads on the short walk from the metro stop to the stadium - which is magnificent by the way.

These two highlight the passing of the guard from an old British hero to a new one.

Image source, BBC Sport

Carlo Ancelotti is bidding to regain the La Liga title this season and Real Madrid's early form is a positive sign.

They finished eight points behind Barcelona in the league last season, firmly in second place.

Will the international break have stunted Real's momentum or can they maintain their statement beginning to the campaign.

• Real Madrid have dropped points in three of their last five home games against Real Sociedad (W2 D2 L1), having won their previous nine home games against them in the competition.
• Real Sociedad have not lost either of their last two meetings with Real Madrid in LaLiga (W1 D1), keeping clean sheets in both. The last time they went three games in a row unbeaten against Los Blancos in the competition was in May 2004 (G5 W4 D1).
• Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has only won 50% of his games against Imanol Alguacil in LaLiga (G4 W2 D1 L1). Only against Diego Pablo Simeone (25% - G8 W2 D2 L4) does the Italian have a lower win percentage in the competition among managers he has faced at least four times (50% also against Luis Enrique Martínez, Unai Emery and Manuel Pellegrini).
• Real Madrid have attempted the most shots in LaLiga 2023/24, both overall (75) and on target (32), posting a 10.7% conversion rate (eight goals from 75 shots), their lowest after their first four games of a league season since 2013/14 (9.9% - eight goals from 81).

Real Sociedad are unbeaten after their first four La Liga matches but it hasn't happened quite how head coach Imanol Alguacil may have liked.

His side have played draws with Girona, Celta Vigo and Las Palmas before finally registering their first victory of the campaign when by beating Granada before the international break.

Image source, Getty Images

There's still one La Liga game left to take place after tonight's fixture, with Girona taking on Granada tomorrow evening.

Here's how this weekend's action has played out:

• Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Alaves
• Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Cadiz
• Valencia 3-0 Atletico Madrid
• Celta Vigo 0-1 Mallorca
• Barcelona 5-0 Real Betis
• Getafe 3-2 Osasuna
• Villareal 2-1 Almeira
• Sevilla 1-0 Las Palmas

Real Madrid were knocked off their perch at the top of La Liga when Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-0 last night.

Victory against Real Sociedad tonight would see them jump back to the top of the table with 15 points.

Image source, BBC Sport

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Bernabéu Stadium

I have been to two La Liga games in the Madrid area today and the build-up could not have been more different.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

It's been a perfect start to La Liga for Real Madrid.

Wins over Athletic Bilbao, Almeira, Celta Vigo and Getafe have seen them record a perfect 12 points from their opening four matches.

Will they be able to extend their winning streak to five games tonight with victory over a Sociedad side who have won just one of their matches so far.

Image source, Getty Images

It's safe to say Jude Bellingham has hit the ground running since making the move to Madrid from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

Bellingham has scored in each of his four LaLiga appearances (five goals) and could become only the second player to score in his first five games in the competition in the 21st century, after Zlatan Ibrahimović in September 2009 for Barcelona (five goals).

Will the 20-year-old accomplish that feat tonight?

Image source, Getty Images

Jude Bellingham is once again among in the starting lineup as Carlo Ancelotti names his Real Madrid side for tonight.

Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga drop to the bench.

They are replaced by Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde, who were substitutes as Madrid beat Getafe 2-1 last time out.

Real Madrid XI: Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Garcia; Kroos, Tchouameni, Valverde; Bellingham; Joselu, Rodrygo.

Subs: Lunin, Canizares, Nacho, Modric, Camavinga, Vazquez, Ceballos, Brahim, Paz, Gonzalo.

There are no changes for Real Sociedad from their win over Granada before the international break.

Arsenal loanee Kieran Tierney starts at left-back.

Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Tierney; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino, Barrenetxea; Kubo, Oyarzabal

Subs: Marrero, Fraga, Odriozola, Aihen, Fernandez, Zakharyan, Olasagasti, Sadiq, Pacheco, Turrientes, De Zarate