Real Sociedad will head to Atletico Madrid on Sunday evening knowing that a victory would see them qualify for the 2023-24 Champions League with a game to spare.
The visitors are currently fourth in the La Liga table, five points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, while Atletico occupy third, just one point behind second-placed Real Madrid.
Match preview
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Atletico have already booked their spot in the group stage of the 2023-24 Champions League, with a total of 73 points from 36 matches leaving them in third position in the table, one point behind Real Madrid in the battle for second position, with Barcelona comfortably winning this season's title.
Diego Simeone's side could still finish fourth, though, as they are only five points ahead of Real Sociedad with two games left, so a defeat in this match would lead to them needing to pick up a positive result on the final matchday in order to secure a top-three finish.
Atletico's absence from the knockout rounds of Europe this season has helped them in La Liga, and they would view second in the table as a successful campaign, even considering their European issues.
The Red and Whites will enter this match off the back of a 3-3 draw at Espanyol on Wednesday, with the Catalan outfit coming from three goals behind to level late on, but Simeone's team were 3-0 winners over Osasuna in their last home game on May 21.
Atletico are also unbeaten against Real Sociedad in Spain's top flight since September 2019, although the points were shared in a 1-1 draw when the two sides locked horns earlier this season.
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Real Sociedad are now on the brink of securing a top-four finish in La Liga for the first time in 10 years, with an excellent campaign seeing them collect 68 points from 36 matches to sit fourth in the table.
Imanol Alguacil's side are five points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, but the Yellow Submarine have a better head-to-head record against the Basque side, so a draw would not be enough for Real Sociedad to guarantee a top-four finish this weekend if Villarreal overcome Rayo Vallecano.
A win for La Real would guarantee their involvement in next season's Champions League, though, ahead of their final game of the campaign at home to Sevilla next weekend.
The White and Blues are unbeaten in the league since the middle of April, while they have won four of their last five, including back-to-back success over Barcelona and Almeria.
Real Sociedad's away form this season has been strong, picking up 33 points from 18 matches, but Atletico have again been solid at home, collecting 39 points, winning 12 of their 18 games at Wanda Metropolitano.
Team News
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Atletico were missing Alvaro Morata, Thomas Lemar, Memphis Depay, Marcos Llorente, Jan Oblak, Stefan Savic and Reinildo for their clash with Espanyol last time out, and all seven could again miss out here.
The home side have no fresh concerns, so it should be a similar side from Wednesday's game, although Pablo Barrios is expected to come into a midfield position.
Angel Correa is set to continue alongside Antoine Griezmann in the final third of the field, with Axel Witsel likely to feature in the middle of the defence due to Savic's absence.
Real Sociedad, meanwhile, will again be without the services of Sadiq Umar and Martin Merquelanz due to injury, but their squad will be boosted by the return of two players.
Indeed, Asier Illarramendi and Igor Zubeldia are available after missing out against Almeria last time out through suspension, and the latter should return in the middle of the defence.
David Silva is a major doubt with the issue that forced him off in the first half of Tuesday's game, so Brais Mendez is set to return, while Alexander Sorloth could return at centre-forward.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Molina, Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso, Carrasco; De Paul, Koke, Barrios; Griezmann, Correa
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Gorosabel, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Munoz; Zubimendi, Merino, Mendez; Kubo, Sorloth, Oyarzabal
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Sociedad
Atletico are again expected to be missing a number of important players, but it is difficult to back them to lose at the moment, especially at home. Real Sociedad would be in a strong position to finish in the top four with a point on Sunday, and we are expecting the spoils to be shared here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
