Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad
Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad meet in an all La Liga affair in Mexico as both clubs continue their pre-season preparations.
The two sides met as recently as the penultimate weekend of the 2022-23 season, with Atletico running out 2-1 winners.
After yet another third-place finish in La Liga, Atletico have shown the best and the worst of themselves so far during pre-season.
Diego Simeone’s men inexplicably lost 3-2 to a K-League All-Star side despite leading with 89 minutes on the clock in the first of their friendlies.
However, on Sunday, Atleti then made up for that late collapse by beating a full-strength Manchester City side.
Champions League football is to come once again for the Colchoneros, and transfer market activity is likely, so the side which will start against Granada on the first Monday of the new season may well be very different.
There are two more friendlies to come before La Liga gets underway though, as a clash with Sevilla on Saturday will follow this fixture.
Atletico were the only side to beat Real Sociedad in their final nine games of the season.
An excellent 20 points from a possible 27 to finish the season secured Champions League football for the San Sebastian club for the first time in 11 years.
La Real have suffered a slightly disappointing start to pre-season though, with two bruising defeats on their return to action.
Alejandro Catena’s hattrick helped Osasuna to a 3-1 win over Imanol Alguacil’s side, before Sporting Lisbon thrashed the Spaniards 3-0 last week.
A solitary goal from Brais Mendez earned Real Sociedad their first win of pre-season against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night though.
La Real start their La Liga campaign against Girona and will also face another Spanish club, Real Betis, in their final pre-season clash at the weekend.
Atletico Madrid friendly form:
LW
Real Sociedad friendly form:
LLW
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Sociedad
After two very polarising results so far in pre-season, it is unclear what Atletico will show up here, but they will be tested by an always competitive Real Sociedad side.