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It has been a disappointing start to the season for Real Sociedad, which is very unusual given recent seasons, as they now welcome what many still believe to be an evolving but still inconsistent Atletico Madrid side to the Anoeta.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 6th October, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
REAL SOCIEDAD PREVIEW: LA REAL’S REALITY
With one of the most intense pressing styles of any team in European football, Real Sociedad have often started seasons extremely well before fading as the season has gone on but, this time around, the pressure is very much on Imanol Aguacil after winning just two of their opening eight La Liga matches.
However, their form has begun to turn around and they managed to hammer a sorry Valencia side by three goals to nil last weekend with a goal from Takefusa Kubo before a late brace scored by Orri Oskarsson. In the meantime they have suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Anderlecht in the UEFA Europa League.
ATLETICO MADRID PREVIEW: LOS ROJIBLANCOS’ NEW ERA
After eight matches of the season so far, Atletico Madrid remain unbeaten with four victories and four draws but that will be a little frustrating after Los Rojiblancos spent well over £100 million during the summer transfer window on the likes of Robin Le Normand, Conor Gallagher, Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth.
The visitors do come into this one on the back of a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Benfica in the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon in midweek in their second UEFA Champions League league phase outing. Kerem Akturkoglu, Angel Di Maria, Alexander Bah and Orkan Kokcu got the goals for Benfica in that game.
REAL SOCIEDAD TEAM NEWS: GETTING PLAYERS BACK
Real Sociedad’s poor start to the season has been hampered by key men being injured but they have got players like Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia, Mikel Oyarzabal and Ander Barrenetxea all fit and available for this one.
There are still a couple of key absentees for La Real with former Rennes right-back Ham Traore still sidelined alongside Russian midfielder Arsen Zakharyan.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Ageurd, Lopez; Zubimendi; Kubo, Sucic, Gomez, Barrenetxea; Oyarzabal
UNAVAILABLE: Traore (Injured), Zakharyan (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATLETICO MADRID TEAM NEWS: NO LLORENTE
Diego Simeone has been keen on rotation throughout the last 18 months or so and that has made it a little difficult to predict an Atletico Madrid starting eleven.
He is not helped by injuries to defensive duo Robin Le Normand and Cesar Azpilicueta, whilst Marcos Llorente is out suspended following the red card he received against Real Madrid last week.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Molina, Lenglet, Gimenez, Reinildo; De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Alvarez; Griezmann, Sorloth
UNAVAILABLE: Le Normand (Injured), Azpilicueta (Injured), Llorente (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
REAL SOCIEDAD VS ATLETICO MADRID PREDICTION
Real Sociedad have, as mentioned, began to significantly improve of late after such a slow start to the season but they have still been underpinned by a sheer inconsistency that was shown by their 2-1 defeat to Anderlecht in midweek. Inconsistency is pretty much the name of the game for Atletico Madrid over the last 12-18 months or so. Neither side will want to head into the break in a mini form of ‘crisis’ so a low-scoring affair would seem quite likely for this one.
REAL SOCIEDAD VS ATLETICO MADRID TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS