El Cholo and his team can go four points clear at the top of La Liga with a victory over Sociedad
By Craig Humpage
Editor-in-Chief, Sporticos
Published: Wednesday 12 May 2021
Atletico Madrid will be desperate to capitalise on Barcelona's latest slip up when they welcome fifth place Real Sociedad to the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday night. After their rivals drew with Levante, Diego Simeone's men have the opportunity to move four points clear of them and five clear of reigning champions Real Madrid. Sociedad themselves are somewhat comfortable in the Europa League places and unable to reach the top four. They will have much less to play for but the same could have been said of Levante who overturned a 2-0 deficit to draw 3-3 with Barcelona on Tuesday despite having absolutely nothing to play for. Atletico would be wise to not overlook them. This should be a fascinating game.
⚔️🐸 FINAAAAAAAAAL 🐸⚔️#LevanteUD 3-3 @FCBarcelona_es #LevanteBarça pic.twitter.com/Ntk7ENb8SU
— Levante UD 🐸 (@LevanteUD) May 11, 2021
Form: Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad
Atletico are on course to win a first La Liga title since 2014 and that is mostly due to their characteristically resolute defending. They have only conceded 22 goals all season, the least in the league, picking up 18 clean sheets along the way. It was this foundation which propelled them to and kept them at the top of the table for so long. Then they hit a bit of a road block. They've only secured 15 points from a possible 27 in their last nine games. They've been looking a little shaky and many feared they may "bottle it", to turn a phrase, but they stayed strong against Barcelona at the weekend and got a 0-0 draw. With Real Madrid and Barca now both drawing in their last games, it is Atletico's to lose.
Real Sociedad have been in decent if not spectacular form since beating their Basque rivals Athletic Club in the Copa Del Rey final back in early April. Most recently they've won three of their last four against Elche, Celta de Vigo, and Eibar, but a loss to relegation threatened Huesca exposed their weaknesses. They’ve been consistently in and around the European places all season and have a solid group of players with a lot of quality, capable of getting a win against anyone in the league on their day. Atletico will need to be on guard and put on a professional display to leave with all three points.
❝Real Sociedad are a brave team. It will be a tough match.❞ pic.twitter.com/rx8OyBcshD
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 11, 2021
Team News: Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad
Thomas Lemar won't be available for Atleti after being taken off with an ankle injury against Barcelona. Joao Felix will likely join Luis Suarez and Angel Correa up front. Renan Lodi was fit enough to make the bench in that match and could feature as a substitute here but is unlikely to start. Jose Gimenez also returned to the bench at the weekend and could start should he be deemed fit enough. In Sociedad team news, Carlos Fernandez and Auhen Munoz are doubts but Igor Zubeldia should be well enough to return here. The visitors will be without their talismanic midfielder Mikel Merino who continues to be sidelined by an injury picked up in March. Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who has netted 14 La Liga goals so far this campaign, will lead the line for the Basque side.
Preview: Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad
Atletico have three games to crown themselves champions once again. It is entirely in their hands. Of the three, this is definitely the toughest test. Even in the absence of Mikel Merino, Sociedad possess real quality, especially going forward. They are likely to start with Isak supported by Adnan Januzaj, David Silva, and Mikel Oyarzabal. It's a formidable front line. Only the top three have scored more than them this season. Simeone is the master of shutting down great attacking play and he will need to set his side up well to do the same and win on Wednesday. The side will no doubt be nervous knowing that the title is in their grasp and Sociedad and more than capable of exploiting that emotion. Even so, with the talent Atleti have all over the pitch, you would imagine they will go on and win their next three games and become champions again. Luis Suarez will hope to get back to the free scoring form he showed at the start of the season after suffering a recent goal drought. This could be the night for a big time player to shine.
Luis Suarez needs just one goal to earn a bonus at Atletico, but he appears cursed by the clause 🚫https://t.co/0HIUsjJj7r pic.twitter.com/FhDNZe4tH4
— MARCA in English (@MARCAinENGLISH) May 12, 2021
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad
Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad Live Stream
Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad
Wanda Metropolitano
Wednesday 12 May 2021
Kick Off - 21:00
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