Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad
Fourth plays first on Sunday when Atletico Madrid host La Liga leaders Real Sociedad at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
It’s one of a number of mout-watering fixtures in Europe’s top leagues this weekend and it could easily result in a shake up at the top of the Spanish table.
The La Liga 2021 betting odds reckon Atleti will do the business at odds of 1.67 to win. If they do so and should Sevilla slip up at home to Levante while Real Madrid fail to beat Barcelona in El Clasico, then the reigning champions will be back on top.
The hosts come into the game on the back of a Champions League defeat to Liverpool while La Real won away to Sturm Graz in the Europa League, but back to domestic matters, Diego Simeone will have his players acutely focused on the next prize.
Talking Points
Atleti searching for consistency
Los Rojiblancos have been looking pretty good in their defence of their 2021 league title and have put in some impressive displays. Antoine Griezmann is starting to settle on his return to the club while Luis Suarez scored his fourth goal of the season in Atleti’s 2-0 win over Barca last week.
But they have won two and lost two of the last four including a setback in the Champions League, losing 2-3 to Liverpool this week as Griezmann showed his best and worst sides.
The Frenchman scored a classy double before being sent off. He’ll be available to play in the Spanish league though and is sure to line up alongside Suarez once again.
Before beating the Blaugrana, Atleti put in another eye-catching performance to see off Serie A high-flyers AC Milan. But before that they lost in La Liga to Alaves, trailing to a fourth-minute goal right through to the final whistle on 96.
But this is a team packed with quality and experience with midfield ace Koke flanked by Angel Correa and Thomas Lemar, who have both been in the goals with three and two respectively.
The side is boosted by the return of Joao Felix after an injury plagued season and the arrival of Rodrigo De Paul, who is settling well into his midfield role.
With Sevilla and Real Madrid playing earlier on Sunday, Atleti fans will be on to the La Liga 2021 updates in the knowledge that if results go their way, they could end the weekend as top dogs.
Oyarzabal has been so good for Soceidad
While Los Rojiblancos search for consistency Sociedad already have that quality and the calm assurance with which head coach Imanol Iguacil has juggled his squad has lifted La Real to top spot, three clear of the chasing pack.
A 90th-minute goal from Julen Lobete gave them a narrow win over Mallorca last time out. Left-back Aihen Munoz will be sitting this one out after he was red carded and that’s a blow to Iguacil as the team has been suffering injuries to some key players with David Silva, Alexander Isak, and Nacho Monreal all sidelined.
Isak and Silva are fit again and they could line up alongside the talismanic Mikel Oyarzabal, who has six goals already this season. He’s been Sociedad’s most reliable performer in recent seasons, making 210 appearances and scoring 60 goals, and he’s still only 24-years-old.
The arrival of Silva at the start of the 2020/21 season sparked life into the club as Sociedad led the way in the early weeks, but an injury to Silva saw them drop off the pace.
His presence this term can only be good news for Oyarzabal who links up so well with the former Manchester City man.
History
Atleti have not lost at home to Real Sociedad in the last eight encounters and have had the better of the head-to-heads since 1993, but they have been well contested.
Los Rojiblancos have won 22 of the 47 encounters and lost 17 while only eight have ended in a draw.
The two teams met at the Wanda Metropolitano in May when a 2-1 victory opened the door for Atleti to win the title.
Recent form gives Sociedad encouragement as the visitors have won four and drawn two of the last six games, while Atleti have won three, drawn one, and lost two over the same period.
But look a little closer and while Los Rojiblancos have faced the likes of Liverpool, Milan, and Barcelona, Sociedad have faced Sturm Graz, Mallorca, Getafe, Monaco, Elche and Granada. While they have been unbeaten, La Real have not won any of these games by more than a single goal.
Betting Tip
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Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad | Atletico Madrid Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.89 |
| October 25, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
The draw is at SBOTOP odds of 3.59 and a Sociedad win is at 4.64. But despite the great form of La Real’s Oyarzabal, Atleti’s all-around quality should be too much for the league leaders.
For a correct scoreline, 2-0 is available at odds of 6.56.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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