Both Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid will be looking to bounce back from disappointing European defeats when they resume their respective La Liga campaigns with a clash on Sunday night.
The home side are currently 14th in the table, having only picked up eight points from their opening eight matches, while Atletico occupy fourth, collecting 16 points from their first eight games of the season.
Match preview
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Real Sociedad's start to the season has been underwhelming, with the Basque outfit only picking up eight points from their opening eight games to sit down in 14th spot, just three points above the relegation zone.
Imanol Alguacil's side have struggled to find the back of the net this season, managing just six in their eight league fixtures, and they are already eight points off fourth position in the table.
The White and Blues were 3-0 winners over Valencia in the league last weekend, which was comfortably their best performance of the campaign, but they were unable to build on the strong result, suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Anderlecht in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Real Sociedad have just one point to show from their opening two Europa League matches, and it would be fair to say that a talented squad has underperformed so far this season.
The Basque club have lost each of their last three league games against Atletico, while they have not managed to overcome the Red and Whites in Spain's top flight since September 2019.
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Atletico claimed a late point against Real Madrid in the Madrid derby last weekend, but they were shocked in the Champions League on Wednesday night, suffering a 4-0 defeat to Benfica in Portugal.
The loss was their first in any competition this season, and it could spell bad news for Real Sociedad, as the capital giants will surely be determined to bounce back this weekend.
A solid start to their 2024-25 La Liga campaign has left them up in fourth position in the table, boasting a record of four wins and four draws to collect 16 points, just two points behind second-placed Real Madrid.
It is difficult to imagine Diego Simeone's side being serious contenders for the title this season, but a win this weekend would leave them in a strong position heading into the October international break.
Atletico were 2-0 winners over Real Sociedad in the corresponding match towards the end of last season, while they have only lost once to Sunday's opponents in Spain's top flight since April 2018.
Team News
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Real Sociedad will be without the services of three players through injury on Sunday, with Igor Zubeldia, Hamari Traore and Arsen Zakharyan unavailable for selection.
Head coach Alguacil will make changes to the side that started against Anderlecht in the Europa League, with Nayef Aguerd, Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea among those who should start.
Sergio Gomez and Mikel Oyarzabal will also be among those to be brought back into the XI, while there will be a recall for Martin Zubimendi, who turned down the chance to join Liverpool over the summer.
As for Atletico, Robin Le Normand, Cesar Azpilicueta and Pablo Barrios are unavailable for selection, while Marcos Llorente will miss out due to the red card that he picked up in the Madrid derby.
Nahuel Molina and Conor Gallagher are set to earn recalls after starting on the bench against Benfica, but Alexander Sorloth might again find himself on the bench.
Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez are expected to feature as the front two, while Rodrigo De Paul could be asked to play in a wide midfield position for the capital side this weekend.
Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, J Lopez; Zubimendi, Sucic, S Gomez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Molina, Witsel, Gimenez, Reinildo; De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Lino; Alvarez, Griezmann
We say: Real Sociedad 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico will have been wounded by their four-goal loss to Benfica, and Simeone will be demanding a response from his players this weekend. Real Sociedad have not been able to settle into the new campaign, and we are backing Atletico to edge a close match on Sunday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
