Preview - Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid 20 April 2018

[Harry85]

Match Day 33
Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid
Friday, April 19th, 2018
02:30 am (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: Anoeta

Real Sociedad: 
Last five matches form: L L D W W
Average goals per match: 1.78
Average goals against per match: 1.63
Top Scorer: Willian José (13)

Atletico Madrid:
Last five matches form: W W D L W
Average goals per match: 1.69
Average goals against per match: 0.47
Top Scorer: Antoine Griezmann (19)

Twelfth take on second on Match Day 33 in La Liga as Real Sociedad play host to Atletico Madrid.

For the hosts there is really no more than pride at stake here. 13 points clear of the relegation zone and 11 adrift of the European spots, they are bound for mid table mediocrity. The home side must do without Xabi Prieto in midfield here.

Atletico's La Liga dream is all but over for another year. Whilst they remain in second position, even a win here would still leave them nine points adrift of runaway leaders Barcelona. It would put them six ahead of big rivals Real Madrid in the race for second though with Real having failed to beat Bilbao at home earlier in the week. The injured Filipe Luis and suspended Lucas Hernández look set to be the main absentees, although Diego Costa is also facing a race against time to prove his fitness.

Sociedad do seem to have improved since the departure of Eusebio at the helm and are seeking a third La Liga win on the spin here having also won four of their last five at home.

Having only lost one of their first 13 away games, Atletico have now lost two of their last three, although one of those was at Camp Nou.

With Sociedad playing well of late and Atletico's main focus for the season now being the Europa League, this one may end in a draw.

Prediction: Real Sociedad 2 - 2 Atletico Madrid

[Harry85]

Half time: 1 - 0
Full time: 3 - 0
Shots: 12 - 9
Shots on target: 4 - 2
Corner Kicks: 6 - 6
Possession: 57% - 43%

Just the one yellow card in the game, with referee Javier Alberola taking the name of Juanmi in the ninetieth minute.

An excellent performance from the home side resulting in a thoroughly deserved win against their lofty opponents. Ahead on possession, total shots and shots on target, there was certainly no fluke about this.

Sociedad's opener came in the 27th minute. Excellent work from Adnan Januzaj down the right-hand side, heading to the by-line before cutting the ball back to find Willian Jose lurking by the penalty spot. An excellent finish in off the post in the bottom corner gave Real Sociedad a deserved lead headed into half-time.

Atletico began the second period in much more positive fashion. Substitutes Vitolo and Fernando Torres both having decent chances, which unfortunately for the visitors they failed to put away.

As time continued to tick by, Atletico pushed forward in search of an equaliser and Real Sociedad began to look increasingly dangerous on the counterattack.

In the 80th minute the home side put this one to bed. Willian Jose producing a clever flick to play Juanmi through on goal with the Atletico defence caught totally flatfooted. With Jan Oblak racing off his line, Juanmi produced a lovely dinked finish from inside the box. 2-0.

Then in the 90th minute Juanmi rubbed salt into the wound. Alberto De La Bello crossing from deep to the far post where Juanmi directed an excellent header back across the keeper and into the top corner.

Atetico remain in second spot but miss the chance to extend their three-point lead over city rivals Real Madrid in third.

Real Sociedad move up to eleventh in the standings after this third consecutive victory, as despite having very little to play for, they at least seem intent on ending the season on a positive note.