Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad: Diego Simeone Looking for Momentum
Defending champs Atletico will look to close the gap to Barça and Madrid as they host Real Sociedad. FOLLOW LIVE
OMNISPORT
Atletico Madrid will hope to steal a march on their Liga title rivals with victory over Real Sociedad at Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.
The defending champions are nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona and five behind Real Madrid, but can reduce their arrears when they host David Moyes' side 24 hours before the top two play.
Simeone watched with delight as Atletico cruised past Cordoba on Saturday thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann and Saul, and the Argentine is keen to maintain momentum with a third league win in succession.
Atletico are looking for revenge over Sociedad after losing at Anoeta earlier in the season, with Simeone all too aware that Moyes' men pose a big threat.
"You have to be more prepared than ever because [this stage of the season] is very difficult," he said.
"We competed very well in our last game against Real Sociedad.
"We had 10 men in that game [after Guilherme Siqueira was sent off in the 50th minute] and it spoke volumes about the competitive tension the coach [Moyes] has instilled in them."
Atleti could welcome back Miguel Moya, who has missed two games after picking up a thigh injury during his side's UEFA Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen on March 17.
The goalkeeper has returned to training, while Raul Garcia is also back in contention as Atletico look to extend their six-game unbeaten run in the league.
Sociedad arrive in the Spanish capital on the back of a 1-1 draw at Malaga on Saturday, Ruben Pardo's late equaliser maintaining the club's strong recent form.
Moyes has quietly gone about his business since arriving in November, and lifted Sociedad into the top half with nine games to play.
The Scot, whose team trail eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao by just two points, was impressed with the performance against Malaga.
"We worked very hard to get the draw because Malaga were exceptional for around 20 minutes and we deserved a point [for our efforts]," he said.
"Our first objective was to avoid relegation. Since then, we've been improving and climbing up the table.
"If we manage to reach seventh place then that's great, but it's not a big deal if we don't."
Moyes' only away victory at Sociedad so far came at Madrid-based Getafe and he will be hoping the capital is a happy hunting ground once again.
- Atletico Madrid have only won two of their last five home league meetings with Real Sociedad (D2 L1), though they were both heavy victories (3-0 in 2011 and 4-0 in 2014).
- Real Sociedad are one of only four teams to have won at the Vicente Calderon against Diego Simeone’s Atletico in La Liga (1-0 in 2013).
- Real Sociedad have not done a league double over Atleti since 2002/03, when they finished the season in second place.
- Los Rojiblancos have won six of their last seven home league games, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
- In the previous meeting between these sides earlier this season, Asier Santana became the first interim manager to win a match this campaign.
- Atletico have won their last three home games against Basque sides. They have managed four in a row since January 1996.
- Diego Simeone scored his only La Liga own goal against Real Sociedad in March 2004.
- Fernando Torres scored at the Vicente Calderón in the last matchday for los rojiblancos; something he has not done in La Liga for the club since 2007.
- Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad are two of the four teams that Antoine Griezmann has faced in the Primera but has yet to score against (Mallorca and Villarreal being the others).
