Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad preview - Moyes: Ronaldo absence "beneficial"

Real Sociedad coach David Moyes is under no illusions about the task facing his side when they travel to Real Madrid on Saturday - even in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The world player of the year, and leading scorer in La Liga this season with 28 goals so far, is beginning a two-match ban for the red card he was shown for kicking out at defender Edimar in Madrid's win over Cordoba last weekend.

Sociedad were also winners last time out, edging Eibar 1-0 to move closer to the top half of the table and gain some confidence ahead of the trip to the Bernebeu.

And although Moyes hopes Ronaldo's absence will be another positive for his players, he knows Madrid's starting line-up will still be a strong one.

"I hope Ronaldo's absence is beneficial," said Moyes. "I think Cristiano would be a miss to any team. He's such a good player, one of the best in the world.

"But Real Madrid have so many players of such quality. They have a really good team and can make various changes.

"They have so much speed so you have to be careful what you do with the ball as they can defend and attack. That's why they are champions of Europe and one of the best teams."

Sociedad have already caused upsets against both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona this season, but Moyes believes chances will be few and far between against the league leaders.

"I think we played well against Eibar and the team travel to Madrid with confidence, but we know that it is difficult," he said in a press conference broadcast on Real Sociedad's website.

"I hope we play well there and demonstrate what we are capable of but it is not an easy game. We have to go and have confidence.

"I don't think you go to the Bernebeu and get 10 or 12 opportunities to score. We will go there, encourage the players, tell them they should go there and play.

"We must take our chances when we have them. I'm encouraging players to create opportunities and win the game"

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident his side can plug the sizeable gap created by Ronaldo's unavailability, and is also hopeful the Portuguese forward has learned a lesson from his rush of blood to the head against Cordoba.

"He made a mistake in Cordoba and he was the first to apologise," said the Italian on www.realmadrid.com. "He has accepted his punishment and hopefully it will not happen again.

"A ban is never a good thing but we will cope with it, no problem. We will play the same formation as always, 4-4-2, with Gareth Bale on the left and James Rodriguez on the right. James will have a more forward position.

"The team have done very well lately and we will play with more intensity than we did in Cordoba, with more pressure on their defence. I don't want to let Sociedad have any space."

Brazilian defender Lucas Silva, who arrived this week from Cruzeiro in his homeland, has been named in Madrid's squad and is likely to get a run-out at some point on Saturday.

Sociedad will be without injured duo Carlos Martinez and Pablo Hervias.