| Details of the match | information |
| competition | La Liga – (Spain) |
| Ronda | 18 |
| Date and time | 04/01/2026, 21:00 – (Includes BST/GMT time zone). |
| stadium | Anoeta stadium |
Prediction – Real Sociedad 1 – 1 Atlético de Madrid
Recent form
As Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid prepare to face each other at the Anoeta Stadium, their recent status in La Liga paints a contrasting picture. Real Sociedad come into the match on a challenging run in their last five league matches. With just one win — a 1-0 victory against Deportivo Alavés — the Club have struggled to maintain consistency. Their recent form includes two draws, against Llevant (1-1) and a defeat against Osasuna (3-1), as well as two home defeats against Girona (1-2) and Villarreal (2-3). This sequence reflects a team struggling with form, particularly in defence, having conceded multiple goals in four of those five games. In contrast, Atlético Madrid’s recent league form suggests a team in a stronger position. In winning four of their last five matches, Atlético have shown resilience and strength, most notably in their impressive 3-1 win against FC Barcelona at Camp Nou. Other notable wins include a 2-0 win against Real Oviedo and a 1-0 away win against Athletic Club. Despite the 3-0 setback against Girona, Atlético recovered quickly, demonstrating their ability to recover and maintain the pace. The lack of recent head-to-head data between these two teams means that historical performance will not significantly influence this encounter. However, based on their respective recent results, Atlético Madrid seem to have the upper hand in terms of form and confidence. Real Sociedad will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities to counter Atlético’s momentum and secure a positive result at home.
Real Sociedad Last 5 League matches
| Teams | result | Red cards | Yellow cards | corners | free tits | possession | Assistance |
| Levant vs Real Sociedad | 1-1 | 0 – 0 | 6-2 | 7-10 | 12-16 | 44% – 56% | 0 – 0 |
| Real Sociedad Vs Girona | 1-2 | 0 – 0 | 1-2 | 4-3 | 5-20 | 47% – 53% | 1-2 |
| Deportivo Alavés Vs Real Sociedad | 0-1 | 0 – 0 | 2-2 | 5-8 | 15-20 | 38% – 62% | 0 – 0 |
| Real Sociedad Vs Villarreal | 2-3 | 0 – 0 | 4-8 | 8-2 | 18-15 | 60% – 40% | 1-2 |
| Osasuna vs Real Sociedad | 3-1 | 1-0 | 3-2 | 3-3 | 7-13 | 46% – 54% | 1-3 |
Real Sociedad’s recent form in La Liga has been a bit of a mixed bag, with their last five games resulting in one win, one draw and three defeats. The team has shown a strong possession game, as evidenced by their 62% possession against Deportivo Alavés and maintaining more than 50% in other matches such as against Levante and Osasuna. However, their ability to convert possession into wins has been inconsistent, potentially due to lapses in defensive solidity and an underwhelming conversion rate in attack. A glance at his match statistics reveals a tendency to dominate the ball but struggle at crucial moments. For example, despite controlling 60% of possession against Villarreal, Real Sociedad succumbed to a 2-3 defeat. His performance against Girona highlighted this issue even more, where despite maintaining a slight advantage in possession, he conceded two goals. It seems that while the midfield, led by the likes of Takefusa Kubo and Gonçalo Guedes, has been effective in maintaining control, defensive lapses and inefficiencies in front of goal have hampered their success. Ander Barrenetxea’s current injury, a key attacking option, aggravates his struggles in the last third. His absence could affect the attacking dynamics of the team and put more pressure on Mikel Oyarzabal to score goals. The reliance on Oyarzabal as the main attacking threat requires the midfield to step up in support, both in terms of creating chances and contributing goals. Looking ahead to the next match, Real Sociedad’s predicted line-up suggests a balanced approach with a solid backline featuring Igor Zubeldia and Aritz Elustondo. The midfield, reinforced by Luka Sucic and Jon Gorrotxategi, will likely focus on maintaining possession and dictating the pace. However, turning this control into goals remains crucial. The team must address defensive vulnerabilities and take advantage of set pieces, an area where he has shown potential, as seen in his corner scores against Llevant and Villarreal. If Real Sociedad can sharpen their offensive edge while maintaining defensive resilience, they have the potential to secure a positive result in their next game.
Last 5 League matches of Atlético de Madrid
| Teams | result | Red cards | Yellow cards | corners | free tits | possession | Assistance |
| Girona Vs Atlético de Madrid | 3-0 | 0 – 0 | 2-0 | 3-4 | 14-7 | 51% – 49% | 0-2 |
| Atlético de Madrid vs Valencia | 2-1 | 0 – 0 | 3-1 | 5-7 | 11-13 | 46% – 54% | 1-1 |
| Athletic Club Vs Atlético de Madrid | 0-1 | 0 – 0 | 3-2 | 5-6 | 12-9 | 44% – 56% | 1-0 |
| FC Barcelona Vs Atlético de Madrid | 1-3 | 0 – 0 | 1-1 | 5-4 | 8-12 | 58% – 42% | 2-1 |
| Atlético de Madrid vs Real Oviedo | 2-0 | 0 – 0 | 0-1 | 7-2 | 8-5 | 52% – 48% | 1-0 |
Atlético Madrid’s recent performances in La Liga have been a mixture of resilience and occasional setbacks, as evidenced by their last five games. The team has achieved three victories, demonstrating their ability to achieve crucial victories against formidable rivals such as FC Barcelona, where they emerged victorious by 3-1. This match was particularly remarkable, as Atlético showed tactical discipline, taking advantage of Barcelona’s defensive failures despite having less possession. Another key win was against Athletic Club, where a solitary goal was enough to secure three points in a closely contested game. These performances highlight Atlético’s ability to take advantage of counter-attacking opportunities, a tactic that has been fundamental in their current strategic framework. However, the team also suffered a major defeat against Girona, succumbing to a 3-0 defeat, which highlighted the potential vulnerabilities in their defensive set-up. This match revealed challenges when facing teams that apply high pressure and dominate possession. Despite having an almost equal share of the ball, Atlético were unable to convert their limited chances, pointing to the need for greater offensive efficiency and creativity in the final third. The absence of assists in this game further emphasizes the struggles to break down organized defenses. The current list of injuries, particularly with Nico Gonzalez, could limit Atletico’s midfield options, potentially affecting their ability to effectively transition between defense and attack. However, the expected line-up includes key players such as Koke and Pablo Barrios, who are expected to anchor the midfield, bringing stability and encouraging link-up play. The presence of attacking talents such as Alexander Sørloth and Julián Alvarez suggests that Atlético will continue to represent a significant threat on the counter, relying on the pace and accuracy of their forwards. In preparation for their next game, Atlético Madrid are likely to emphasize a balanced approach, focusing on consolidating their defense while taking advantage of counter-attacking opportunities. The absence of red cards in recent matches indicates a disciplined approach that they will try to maintain. However, the high number of yellow cards suggests the need for caution not to compromise their defensive solidity. Overall, Atlético’s strategy will likely revolve around playing to their strengths in structured play and exploiting the attacking prowess of their forwards to maintain their competitive edge in La Liga.
Team news and injuries
Injuries and suspensions of the Real Sociedad
- Ander Barrenetxea (Calf problems)
Injuries and suspensions of Atlético de Madrid
- Nico González (Muscle Injury)
Head-to-head (H2H) registration and summary.
H2H Last 5
| Teams | result | Red cards | Yellow cards | corners | free tits | possession | Assistance |
| Real Sociedad Vs Atlético de Madrid | N/A | 0 – 0 | 0-1 | 3-3 | 12-7 | 61% – 39% | 3-0 |
| Real Sociedad Vs Atlético de Madrid | N/A | 0 – 0 | 0-2 | 5-1 | 0 – 0 | 67% – 33% | 1-1 |
| Real Sociedad Vs Atlético de Madrid | N/A | 0-1 | 3-4 | 8-4 | 0 – 0 | 60% – 40% | 0-2 |
| Real Sociedad Vs Atlético de Madrid | N/A | 0 – 0 | 3-3 | 1-4 | 0 – 0 | 37% – 63% | 1-0 |
| Real Sociedad Vs Atlético de Madrid | N/A | 0 – 0 | 2-2 | 6-4 | 0 – 0 | 49% – 51% | 2-1 |
Detailed H2H analysis
In the recent head-to-head clashes between Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid, several intriguing patterns are emerging that could influence their upcoming La Liga clash. Real Sociedad have consistently enjoyed a higher proportion of possession, often exceeding 60% in most of their meetings. This suggests a tactical approach focused on controlling the ball and maintaining the pace of the game. Despite this dominance of possession, the number of assists indicates a mixed ability to convert possession into goalscoring opportunities against Atlético’s formidable defence. Real Sociedad’s ability to use their midfield effectively, led by the likes of Takefusa Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal, will be key to breaking down Atlético’s defences. On the contrary, Atlético de Madrid have shown resistance in the matches against Real Sociedad, often taking advantage of fewer opportunities. His focus tends to be on compact defense and quick transition play, as seen in his red and yellow card stats, which imply a physical edge to his game. The absence of key players, such as Nico González due to a muscle injury, may affect their stability in midfield, but the inclusion of experienced players such as Koke and the potential attacking threats of Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth give them strategic versatility. The challenge for Real Sociedad will be to exploit these gaps, especially considering that Atlético have struggled with discipline, as indicated by their higher number of yellow cards. The next game at the Anoeta Stadium will be a test of whether Real Sociedad can finally translate their possession into tangible results against an athletic team known for their defensive resilience and ability to strike on the counter-attack. The dynamics of these past encounters, along with the current team compositions, set the stage for a compelling tactical battle.
Expected lineups
- Formation: 4-1-4-1
- Players: Álex Remiro (Goalkeeper), Igor Zubeldia (Defender), Aritz Elustondo (Defender), Sergio Gómez (Defender), Jon Martín (Defender), Jon Gorrotxategi (Midfielder), Gonçalo Guedes (Midfielder), Takefusa Kubo (Midfielder), Luka Sucic (Midfielder), Pablo Marín O (Midfielder), Pablo Marín (Midfielder), Pablo Marín O (Midfielder).
- Formation: 4-4-2
- Players: Jan Oblak (Goalkeeper), Matteo Ruggeri (Defender), Marcos Llorente (Defender), Dávid Hancko (Defender), Marc Pubill (Defender), Koke (Midfielder), Pablo Barrios (Midfielder), Giuliano Simeone (Midfielder), TBC (Midfielder), Alexander Sørloth (Midfielder), Alexander Sørloth (Midfielder)

