Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad

Atletico Madrid will look to bounce back with a victory in La Liga when they welcome Real Sociedad to their home ground on Saturday evening.

Under Diego Simeone’s leadership, Atletico come into the game following a 0-0 stalemate against Alaves. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad, still in the hunt for European qualification as the season nears its close, played out a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby last weekend.

Atletico are well-positioned as the season winds down, holding third place in the La Liga standings, 10 points clear of sixth-placed Real Betis. This gap virtually guarantees their spot in the 2025-26 Champions League.

Despite falling short in the race for the La Liga title and facing setbacks in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, Atletico are reportedly gearing up for an active summer transfer window. The team is eager to rediscover their winning form after the recent draw with Alaves, aiming for a third consecutive home victory this weekend.

Atletico have been formidable at home this season, securing 40 points from 17 league matches in front of their fans. In contrast, Real Sociedad have struggled on the road, earning just 19 points from their 17 away games.

Last season, Atletico edged Real Sociedad 2-1 in the corresponding fixture, though the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in their earlier meeting this term.

Real Sociedad have had a lackluster campaign, currently occupying 11th place in the table. However, European qualification remains within reach, giving them plenty of motivation for the final stretch. They trail eighth-placed Rayo Vallecano, who hold a Conference League playoff spot, by just one point and are three points behind seventh-placed Celta Vigo, who are in contention for a Europa League berth.

Julian Alvarez, Atletico's top scorer, will not be available this weekend since the Argentina international is suspended following his historic yellow card against Alaves.

In the latter third of the field, Alexander Sorloth is anticipated to replace Alvarez; however, the rest of the team may remain unchanged, with Conor Gallagher probably holding onto his position down the right.

Arsen Zakharyan is still sidelined for Real Sociedad because of a thigh issue, and Orri Oskarsson, Igor Zubeldia, and Alvaro Odriozola are all questionable for this weekend's match.