Atletico Madrid go into Sunday’s trip to Real Sociedad trying to avoid a third straight defeat in all competitions. Last weekend they lost 3-0 to Athletic Club in La Liga, then went down 2-1 to Liverpool in the Champions League. It is a sharp drop for Diego Simeone’s side, who now need a response at a ground where Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid should be a proper test rather than a routine away trip.
Atletico's need for a response
The immediate concern for Atletico is not just the two defeats, but the way they arrived. A 3-0 league loss and a Champions League defeat in the same week leave little room for spin, especially with Sociedad next and Osasuna and Real Madrid following in the league. The next three fixtures give Simeone a chance to steady the mood, but they also leave very little margin for another flat performance.
Atleti's recent league form is mixed, with the sequence in the supplied figures reading LWDLW, and they remain second in the current La Liga standings. That sounds healthier than the week just gone, but the trip to San Sebastián comes against a team that has found its footing quickly after a poor opening.
Sociedad's recent lift
Real Sociedad have taken seven points from their last three La Liga matches, which is a useful swing after opening the season with back-to-back defeats to Real Betis and Real Madrid. They beat Espanyol and Elche either side of a goalless draw with Celta Vigo, and that is enough to make this one of the more awkward early-season trips for Atletico.
The Basque side also have a recent edge from the 2025-26 Copa del Rey final, where they beat Atletico on penalties. Atletico are unbeaten against Sociedad in La Liga since September 2019, so there is a strong league pattern in their favour, but the overall mood around this game is different to what the head-to-head might suggest.
Sociedad’s recent league sequence is WWDWL, and that is the form line that matters here. They have momentum, Atletico do not, and the league meeting on Sunday looks like a cleaner read on how far Simeone’s side have to go to settle down after the Liverpool loss.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
