Duel of the titans in San Sebastián, with two teams that are at the top of the ranking and they want to do important things this season (follow the game live on As.com). Atlético does not give in. And he keeps the pulse with Real Madrid. Rojiblancos and merengues seem the two most serious candidates for the title and with each passing day it becomes more evident that this struggle between those of Cholo and those of Zidane reaches the end of the season.
Atlético beat Elche in a more than acceptable match and signs a hopeful start for the rojiblanca fans. La Real has been deflating, comes from losing to Levante, but your sights this year are high: Barcelona, Sevilla and Villarreal have been a tough competitor for Champions positions. The Imanol team recovers Oyarzabal and Silva while the Cholo has again plugged in to Luis Suárez. Both, with seven goals, are the top scorers for their teams.
Atlético knows that Real Sociedad is pushing the limit. Last season they were defeated 2-0 in San Sebastián. He is one of those rivals that makes Atleti suffer, wherever they are played. Atlético is getting its commitments, is changing the system (from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2), has won for the cause to Lemar and he has all his artillery, with Suárez and Costa bidding for the 9. The Hispanic-Brazilian is not from before, but his desire is contagious. Having him with the group is an extra for Cholo.
We will see what novelties the Argentine coach introduces, who I could play again with three centrals and two lanes. Could even come in Saúl by Lemar. João Félix is the great doubt in attack, He was injured against Elche, he trained well in the previous one, but Correa could play at the beginning. Simeone's team usually suffers away from Wanda Metropolitano and Real at home is a level test and it will serve to see where the team is. In the previous outing, in the derby, Atlético was not the usual one.
La Real has five league games without winning. Could not with Villarreal, Alavés, Eibar, Barcelona and Levante. The last league triumph was against Cádiz and eAmong all the competitions are eight games without winning. Imanol will have Silva, Oyarzabal, Elustondo and Guridi, but will not have Zaldua and Januzaj. At home he has played seven games and lost one: against Valencia. It is true that Real Madrid, Villarreal and Eibar scored there. The casualties have punished the Basque team, also immersed in the Europa League. The calendar does not spare anyone.
In their fiefdom the Real has only conceded four goals. Nobody scored more than one goal per game. And Simeone's troop arrives, with the Carrasco, João Félix, Correa, Luis Suárez, Marcos Llorente, Costa and company. An Athletic that leads twice the number of goals in LaLiga than one year. But in the big games it 'dries up': a goal in three games against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal. For Imanol and Simeone there are reasons for hope and concern.