MADRID, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso returns 'home' when his side takes on Real Sociedad in the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on Saturday.
The son of former player Periko Alonso - who won two La Liga titles with the club, Alonso grew up in the Real Sociedad youth system, progressing through the club's B-team to the first team, where he made 122 appearances in all competitions before moving to Liverpool and subsequently Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
When his playing days were over, the 43-year-old had a brief spell coaching the Real Madrid under-14 team, before going back to San Sebastian where he spent three seasons, leading Real Sociedad B-team to promotion to the Spanish second division. Although he couldn't keep the club in the category, his work there paved the way for his move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso now returns at the head of a Real Madrid side that has won its first three matches of the new campaign and shown a defensive order that was missing last season.
The Real Madrid coach is still without Jude Bellingham as the England midfielder recovers from a shoulder operation, but has Brazilian trio Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Eder Militao all available after Carlo Ancelotti left them out of his recent Brazil squad for the World Cup qualifiers.
Alonso has rotated his starting 11 in the three games so far this season, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal taking turns at right-back, while Rodrygo and Vinicius have both alternated on the left of the attack.
With the UEFA Champions League starting next week, Alonso is certain to maintain that policy, with Carvajal likely to get the nod over Alexander-Arnold away from home.
Real Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco has had a difficult start after his promotion from the B-team to replace Imanol Alguacil, with two draws and a defeat so far this season.
As striker Orri Oskarsson is out with a muscle problem, Jon Karrikaburu is likely to lead the home side's attack with Mikel Oyarzabal and Take Kubo in support, while midfielder Carlos Soler is in line for a debut after his move from Paris Saint-Germain. ■
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