Preview: Real Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid

Real Sociedad have placed Asier Santana in charge for their game with Atletico Madrid after sacking Jagoba Arrasate at the start of the week.

Arrasate had overseen a dismal start to their La Liga campaign which has left Sociedad in 19th place in the standings with just six points from 10 games.

Patience was lost in Arrasate after Sociedad had lost 1-0 to Malaga last weekend, but several alterations could be made for the fixture against last season's league champions.

Esteban Granero and Alfreo Finnbogason are two players who could be drafted in, but Xabi Prieto remains absent for the home side.

After a slow start to the season, Diego Simeone has seen his Atletico Madrid squad put together an impressive run of five successive wins to ensure that they are now challenging on both the domestic and European front.

Atletico sit just one point off the pace in La Liga while a 2-0 victory over Malmo in the Champions League has taken them three points clear in Group A.

Antoine Griezmann is likely to return after been demoted to the bench for the Malmo match, but Tiago could miss out with a hamstring problem.

Recent form

Real Sociedad: DLLDL

Atletico Madrid: WWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Real Sociedad: Zubikarai, Ansotegi, Yuri, Inigo Martinez, Joseba Zaldua , Zurutuza, Bergara, Ruben Pardo, Granero, Vela, Finnbogason

Atletico Madrid: Moya, Miranda, Juanfran, Guilherme Siqueira, Godin, Gabi, Mario Suarez, Griezmann, Turan, Koke, Mandzukic

Sports Mole says: 1-3