MADRID, Jan. 5 -- The pressure is on Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari when his side entertains Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday.

Although Solari saw Madrid win the Club World Cup just before Christmas, the truth is they were hardly stretched by facing Japan's Kashima Antlers in their semifinal before defeating the United Arab Emirates' Al Ain 4-1 to retain the title.

They were brought straight back down to earth on Thursday with a 2-2 draw away to Villarreal, with another disappointing Liga Santander performance and although the fans in the Bernabeu will be shown their latest trophy ahead of Sunday's game, they are more likely to have Thursday's disappointment fresher in their minds.

The draw leaves Real Madrid seven points behind league leaders FC Barcelona and desperately needing all three points in order to stop the title once again slipping away from them before the season is halfway through.

Solari defended himself in his Saturday press conference, stressing that under his guidance Madrid had climbed from ninth to fourth in the classification and insisting that his players "are not machines" and it is "hard to play a game every three days."

That may be the case and Thursday saw Gareth Bale suffer another injury, the 22nd of his Real Madrid career, but another disappointing display would leave Madrid all-but out of the title race and with Jose Mourinho recently sacked by Manchester United, it would certainly increase speculation of a return for the Portuguese.

【体坛英语资讯：Pressure on Solari as Imanol makes 2nd debut as Real Sociedad coach】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Did Yi get an All-Star snub?

★ 体坛英语资讯：Fresh Wang leads short-track skaters

★ 体坛英语资讯：Italy join Netherlands in last eight after beating France 2-0

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jennifer Aniston staying at a haunted hotel

★ 体坛英语资讯：FIFA lifts Iraq ban

★ 体坛英语资讯：Portugal, Czech score wins on first day of Euro 2008

★ 体坛英语资讯：Vintage Federer wins fourth Masters Cup

★ 体坛英语资讯：Federer back on track, Roddick into semis

★ 体坛英语资讯：Zheng makes history with semis spot in grand slam

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Charlotte Church names her baby girl