Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad - prediction, team news, lineups

Atletico Madrid will be looking to make sure of third position in La Liga when they round off their 2019-20 campaign at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday night.

Diego Simeone 's side are currently third in the table, two points ahead of fourth-placed Sevilla, while Sociedad sit sixth, two points behind fifth-placed Villarreal ahead of the final set of fixtures.

Match preview

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Atletico have been unable to launch a title challenge this season but only Real Madrid (3) have lost fewer times than Simeone's side (4) in Spain's top flight during the 2019-20 campaign.

Too many draws have cost the capital outfit the chance to challenge higher up the division, but they were outside of the top four entering the lockdown period and therefore third would be considered a success.

The Red and Whites are currently third, two points clear of fourth-placed Sevilla, who are at home to Valencia on the same night. Both Atletico and Sevilla are already guaranteed a top-four finish, though, as Villarreal in fifth are 10 points behind the Champions League positions.

Atletico will enter Sunday's clash off the back of a 2-0 win at Getafe on Thursday night, while they have not actually lost in the league since the start of February, which is an indication of the size of the task facing Sociedad at the Wanda Metropolitano.

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Sociedad, meanwhile, will enter this weekend's match off the back of a goalless draw with Sevilla on Thursday night, which left them in sixth spot in the table, two points behind fifth-placed Villarreal.

The Basque club have seen their top-four hopes fade since the lockdown period but fifth would be considered a success, particularly considering that they only finished ninth last term.

A return to the Europa League is on the agenda for the club, although they could drop out of the European positions with a poor result this weekend as just two points separates them from ninth-placed Granada.

Sociedad have found form in recent weeks, losing just one of their last five in the league, although they have not beaten Atletico away from home in Spain's top flight since March 2013.

Atletico La Liga form: WDWDWW

Sociedad La Liga: LWDLWD

Team News

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Atletico will be without the services of Saul Niguez due to the booking that the Spaniard picked up against Getafe on Thursday night, but central defender Mario Hermoso is back from a ban of his own.

Joao Felix and Sime Vrsaljko are still on the sidelines through injury, although Simeone otherwise has a full squad to choose from on the final weekend of the season.

Thomas Partey, Alvaro Morata, Vitolo, Kieran Trippier and Renan Lodi could all be rotated into the side for this match, although Diego Costa should keep his spot in attack.

As for Sociedad, a lengthy injury list includes Aritz Elustondo, Jon Bautista, Adnan Januzaj, Ander Guevara, Asier Illarramendi and Luca Sangalli.

The Basque side did not pick up any fresh concerns against Sevilla on Thursday night, but there are expected to be changes with Nacho Monreal, Martin Odegaard and Andoni Gorosabel likely to return.

Head coach Imanol Alguacil also has a decision to make in the final third, but Willian Jose could get the nod over Swedish youngster Alexander Isak.

Atletico possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Trippier, Gimenez, Felipe, Lodi; Vitolo, Koke, Thomas, Correa; Costa, Morata

Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Moya; Gorosabel, Llorente, Le Normand, Monreal; Zubimendi, Merino; Oyarzabal, Odegaard, Portu; Willian Jose

We say: Atletico 1-0 Sociedad

Atletico will be determined to make sure of third spot in the table, and we are finding it difficult to back against the hosts this weekend. Simeone's side have only lost once at the Wanda Metropolitano in the league this term, and we fancy them to edge a tight game on Sunday night.