Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid: Preview and Projected Lineups

Can La Real continue their good form at home against Atleti?

Third and sixth on the La Liga table face off as Atletico Madrid, led by Diego Simeone, travel up north to take on Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium.

The hosts are currently in good form, especially at home. Since losing to Real Madrid on match day one, they have yet to lose at home again. They have two wins, one draw, and one loss at their famous stadium, and currently sit on sixth spot with 16 points in total.

Meanwhile Atletico Madrid were on a terrific form and arguably the best side in Europe until they were slowed down by Sevilla two weeks ago. They have since dropped to third spot. However, after suffering their first defeat of the season in Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, they have bounced back and won their last two games scoring a whopping six goals.

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Although they are the only side in UEFA Champions League with 100% winning record, Simeone is not happy with the way the team performed on 2-1 win over FC Rostov. Los Colcherones needed to wait until 94th minute to get a winner against the Russian minnows, when Antoine Griezmann volleyed it home after a flick on by a Rostov defender.

On the other hand, Sociedad coach Eusebio Sacristan is impressed with the team’s much improved form, after starting the season poorly. They are coming into this game with two straight wins, where they scored five and conceded none.

Atleti’s star man Griezmann returns to the ground where he spent nine years playing. He has already scored four goals in five matches against his old club, with two of them being in Anoeta.

Sociedad will be missing a key player in Inigo Martinez for this clash, after the Spanish international defender received his fifth yellow of the season in a 2-0 win over Leganes last week. La Real will also be without midfielder Markel Bergara due to injury. Luckily for them, former Real Madrid man Esteban Granero and Joseba Zaldua are set to return from their injuries.

Atletico will also be missing a key center back of their own after Stefan Savic was sent off last weekend against Malaga, ruling him out of Saturday’s clash. Nicolas Gaitan is also in doubt for the game, as the Argentine suffered a hip injury and still hasn’t been able to train with the rest of the squad. Good news is that back up keeper Miguel Angel Moya is back at training along with young Uruguayan center back Jose Maria Gimenez and Italian forward Alessio Cerci, while midfielder Augusto Fernandez won’t return until March of next year.

Sociedad will likely continue their 4-3-3, with William Jose up front with Mexican international Carlos Vela and youngster Mikel Oyarzabal on the wings. A very hardworking midfield trio of Asier Illaramendi, David Zurutuza, and captain Xabi Prieto will try to control things in the middle of the park while Granero, Sergio Canales, and Juanmi can be options off the bench for Eusebio if he wants to have more creativity.

After not being happy with the midweek performance, Simeone is likely to make changes to the starting line up. He might opt for a more defensive line up and try to dominate the hosts to slow down their attack minded formation.