Real Sociedad will host Atletico Madrid at the Reale Arena this weekend, with both teams looking to wind down their campaigns on a high.
Real Sociedad are coming into the game against Atletico Madrid on the back of three wins from their last four La Liga matches. The home side will be confident of grinding a positive result here.
La Real are sixth in the league table, and they have nothing to play for. It remains to be seen whether they can end the season strongly. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid have already secured Champions League qualification, and they are fourth in the standings.
The visitors have nothing to play for either, and it remains to be seen whether they can motivate themselves to put on a strong performance here. The Colchoneros are coming into this game on the back of a defeat against Osasuna, and Diego Simeone will demand a strong reaction from the players.
Both teams will be hoping to give their fans something to cheer about in the final game of the season. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Real Sociedad
The home team will be without Martin Zubimendi and Igor Zubeldia due to their respective muscle injuries. Carlos Fernandez misses out with a sprained knee.
Real Sociedad will start in a 4-3-3 formation against Atletico Madrid, with Alex Remiro in goal. Hamari Traore and Javi Galan will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact at the back and help out during counter-attacks. Aritz Elustondo will start in the heart of the defence alongside Robin Le Normand.
Benat Turrientes will look to control the tempo of the game and recycle possession in the midfield. Mikel Merino and Brais Mendez will add defensive cover, creativity and drive to the midfield. Umar Sadiq will lead the line for Real Sociedad, with Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea on either side of him. They will add creativity, flair and goals from the flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Remiro; Traore, Elustondo, Le Normand, Galan; Mendez, Benat, Merino; Kubo, Umar, Barrenetxea
Atletico Madrid
Nahuel Molina misses out with a hamstring problem, and Machin Perez is ruled out with ACL damage. Pablo Barrios has muscle injury and Gabriel Paulista is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will start in their usual 3-5-2 formation against Real Sociedad, with Jan Oblak in goal. In the back three, Jose Gimenez will start alongside Axel Witsel and Mario Hermoso. Cesar Azpilicueta and Samuel Lino will start as the wing-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch.
Marcos Llorente will start in the central midfield pairing alongside Koke and Rodrigo De Paul. De Paul will add defensive presence, while Koke and Llorente will add drive and work rate. Angel Correa will lead the line alongside Antoine Griezmann.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso; Azpilicueta, Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Lino; Griezmann, Correa
Key Stats
- There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Real Sociedad’s last six games in La Liga.
- Real Sociedad have seen under 2.5 goals in five of their last six home matches against Atletico Madrid in all competitions.
- Atletico Madrid are undefeated in nine of their last ten matches against Real Sociedad in all competitions.
- 13 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
- Both teams have lost two of their last six league matches.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
The 33-year-old has been in impressive form this season, and he has 24 goals across all competitions. The French international scored a hat-trick against Getafe just over a week ago and he will look to continue his impressive run of form by getting on the scoresheet here. Griezmann is our key player to watch out for, and he will look to get on the scoresheet and open up the home defence with his creativity.
Prediction
Real Sociedad 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Both teams are in similar form right now, and this is likely to be a close contest. They will look to pick up all three points, but this is likely to be an evenly matched affair. Neither side will want to end up on the losing side, and they could end up cancelling each other out. A draw seems quite likely this weekend.