Atletico Madrid will be aiming to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they host Real Sociedad on Saturday evening.
Diego Simeone's side will enter the match off the back of a goalless draw with Alaves, while Real Sociedad, who are in European contention approaching the end of the season, drew 0-0 with Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby last weekend.
Match preview
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Atletico are in a comfortable position heading towards the final stages of the season, sitting third in the La Liga table, some 10 points ahead of sixth-placed Real Betis, so qualification for the 2025-26 Champions League has all but been achieved.
Simeone's side have ultimately fallen short in terms of the La Liga title, while they also suffered disappointment in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, but the club are believed to be planning for a busy summer transfer window.
Atletico will be bidding to return to winning ways on Saturday, having been held to a 0-0 draw by Alaves last time out, and the Red and Whites will be eyeing a third straight home success this weekend.
The capital club have again been strong at home this season, picking up 40 points from their 17 league games in front of their own supporters, and they will be welcoming a Real Sociedad outfit that have collected only 19 points from their 17 matches on their travels.
Atletico beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign, but it finished 1-1 when the two teams locked horns for the reverse fixture earlier this season.
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Real Sociedad's season has been a disappointment, currently sitting in 11th spot in the table, but they can still secure European qualification for next term, so there is plenty to play for in the final stages of the campaign.
Indeed, the Basque outfit are only one point behind eighth-placed Rayo Vallecano, who are currently qualifying for the Conference League playoffs, while they are just three points from seventh-placed Celta Vigo in the battle for Europa League qualification.
Imanol Alguacil's side will enter this match off the back of a goalless draw with Athletic in the Basque derby, and they have not actually been victorious in Spain's top flight since the start of April.
Only two points have been secured from their last four league fixtures, and a tough end to the campaign will see them face Celta Vigo and Real Madrid either side of a home fixture against Girona.
Real Sociedad have not finished lower than sixth in La Liga since 2019, which demonstrates how underwhelming this season has been for the Basque outfit, who will have to replace departing manager Alguacil this summer.
Team News
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Atletico will be without the services of their leading goalscorer Julian Alvarez this weekend, as the Argentina international is suspended due to the milestone yellow card that he picked up against Alaves.
Rodrigo Riquelme remains a doubt due to a muscular problem, but Atletico are otherwise in strong shape for the clash in Madrid.
Alexander Sorloth for Alvarez is expected to be the swap in the final third of the field, but it might otherwise be an unchanged side, with Conor Gallagher likely to keep hold of his spot down the right.
As for Real Sociedad, Arsen Zakharyan remains on the sidelines due to a thigh problem, while Orri Oskarsson, Igor Zubeldia and Alvaro Odriozola are all doubts for this weekend's contest.
Head coach Alguacil could make two changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Athletic, with Luka Sucic and Jon Aramburu potentially being introduced into the XI.
Martin Zubimendi continues to be linked with a move away from the Basque outfit, and the midfielder, who will start this weekend, could be in the latter stages of his time with the White and Blues.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Martin, Aguerd, Munoz; Kubo, Sucic, Zubimendi, Marin, S Gomez; Oyarzabal
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Sociedad
We are not expecting Saturday's clash to be a high-scoring affair, and it would not be a complete shock to see a goalless draw, but Atletico, with home advantage, should be able to return to winning ways against an inconsistent Real Sociedad.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
