Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad - prediction, team news, lineups

Two of last season's top four in La Liga will lock horns in the Spanish capital on Sunday afternoon, with Atletico Madrid welcoming Real Sociedad to Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico are currently fourth in the table, boasting 16 points from their opening seven matches, while Real Sociedad sit one position and one point behind their opponents in this game.

Match preview

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Atletico's low point this season was undoubtedly the 3-0 defeat at Valencia on September 16, but they have hardly missed a step since, winning four of their last five matches in all competitions, including their last four.

Diego Simeone's side have recorded three straight La Liga wins since their only loss of the season at Mestalla, and a total of 16 points from seven matches has left them in fourth position in the table, five points behind the leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand.

Atletico have also made a positive start to their Champions League group-stage campaign, picking up four points from their opening two matches, which has left them at the top of Group E ahead of a double-header with Celtic.

The Red and Whites have actually won their last two games 3-2, beating Cadiz in the league last weekend before overcoming Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

There have been signs of Atletico being back to their best in recent weeks, especially in the Madrid derby against Real Madrid, and another victory on Sunday would cap off what has been a very positive opening couple of months of the 2023-24 campaign for the capital giants.

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Real Sociedad were also in Champions League action earlier this week, recording a 2-0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg to move onto four points from their two matches, which has left them at the top of Group D.

Imanol Alguacil's side, like Atletico, will enter this match off the back of a four-game winning run, including a 3-0 success over Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby last weekend.

The White and Blues have won four, drawn three and lost one of their eight league games this season to collect 15 points, which has left them in fifth position in the table.

Real Sociedad actually drew their opening three league games of the season against Girona, Celta Vigo and Las Palmas, but they have won four of their last five, with their only dropped points during that run coming against Real Madrid at Bernabeu, suffering a 2-1 loss to Carlo Ancelotti's side.

The Basque outfit have not actually beaten Atletico in Spain's top flight since September 2019, and they suffered a 2-1 loss in the corresponding game between the two sides during the 2022-23 campaign.

Team News

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Atletico have a substantial injury list at this moment in time, with Jose Gimenez, Stefan Savic, Memphis Depay, Pablo Barrios, Thomas Lemar, Caglar Soyuncu and Reinildo all on the sidelines.

Cesar Azpilicueta is set to retain his spot at the back due to the team's defensive injuries, but there could be a change in midfield from the Feyenoord clash, with Marcos Llorente potentially featuring in the XI.

Alvaro Morata has made an excellent start to the season, scoring seven goals in eight appearances in all competitions, and the Spain international will once again join Antoine Griezmann in the final third of the field.

Real Sociedad, meanwhile, will be missing Alvaro Odriozola, Kieran Tierney and Martin Merquelanz on Sunday due to injury problems.

Aihen Munoz is the player benefiting from Tierney's absence, and the Spaniard will again start at left-back, while Robin Le Normand should shake off a knock to feature in the middle of the defence.

There are not expected to be any major surprises in the away side's XI, but head coach Alguacil has a decision to make in the final third of the field, with Umar Sadiq, Andre Silva and Ander Barrenetxea all battling to feature alongside Takefusa Kubo, Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Mendez.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Munoz; Kubo, Zubimendi, Merino, Oyarzabal; Mendez, Sadiq

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Azpilicueta, Witsel, Hermoso; Molina, Llorente, Koke, Saul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata

We say: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Sociedad

This has all of the makings of a cracking match, but we are finding it difficult to separate them. Atletico are the favourites on home soil, but Simeone's side have so many injury problems, especially at the back, and we are expecting Real Sociedad to be good enough for a point this weekend.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.