Real Sociedad are holding out hope that they can make it to the Champions League for the first time in six seasons with a finish in the top four of La Liga. While the top three spots in Spain are pretty much set, the fourth is up for grabs, and the next few weeks of action should be riveting with just nine points separating fourth place from 14th in the table. Real Sociedad are currently just four points behind fourth place Getafe, and a win over Atletico Madrid this week would be huge for their hopes.
Don't miss the Spanish La Liga action from the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian, Spain at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on beIN Sports.
La Liga Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Real Sociedad +267
Atletico Madrid +122
Draw +230
Over/Under 2
Odds Analysis
Since a disappointing home loss in the Madrid Derby, Atletico have responded well. They have secured a shutout in each of their last three matches, beating Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal in league play and knocking off Juventus in Champions League action too. The club knows it is very unlikely to catch first place Barcelona in their race to win the league, but all it can do is pick up wins with the hope the Blaugrana fall.
Since the calendar flipped over to 2019, Real Sociedad have been a different team. They started off the year with a stunning 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the Bernabau, and they have now grabbed a result in 10 straight matches in all competitions. In La Liga action, the Basque club has four wins and four draws during this stretch, and a win would be huge before heading on the road to face Sevilla next weekend.
Injury Report
The return of Diego Costa and Jose Maria Gimenez has been huge for Atletico Madrid. Both players had been out for a while, but now the Atleti are almost at full strength. Their only two injury concerns for this match are Gelson Martins and Lucas Hernandez. Martins has been out since mid-January with a thigh injury, while Hernandez has missed two weeks with a knee injury. Both players are considered questionable.
The hosts are dealing with numerous injuries. Asier Illarramendi is out for another six weeks with a groin injury, while Adnan Januzaj, Miguel Angel Moya, and Andoni Gorosabel are questionable. David Concha, Martin Merquelanz, and Kevin Rodrigues are all back in training, but all three players have been out since at least December.
Player to Watch
Willian Jose has been a key part of Real Sociedad for the last three years. While the Basque clubs are known for developing their own players, in recent years Real Sociedad has looked outside the region for talent, and they struck gold with the Brazilian. He has scored nine goals and tallied three assists in 21 games this season, and he opened the scoring in a 3-0 Real Sociedad win the last time these teams met in San Sebastian.
Previous Meeting
Atletico were the better team when these sides clashed in the Metropolitano earlier in the season. Real Sociedad were held without a shot on goal, and Atletico managed to secure a 2-0 victory. Diego Godin and Filipe Luis were the match’s goal scorers.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I think Real Sociedad will pick up a result at home in this one. It’s never easy to beat the Basque clubs on the road, and Atletico know they have their work cut out for them. Settling for a draw isn’t optimal, but it’s not a disaster either.
Spanish La Liga Odds: Atletico Madrid 1, Real Sociedad 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
