Atlético de Madrid begin a hectic January with a visit to San Sebastián, where Real Sociedad await in the first match following the holiday break.
Atlético (11-4-3, 37 points) have ground to make up in LaLiga’s
title race. The Rojiblancos trail FC Barcelona by nine points and city rivals Real Madrid by five points as they hit the official halfway point of the league season on Sunday night. This fixture is the first of at least seven games Atlético will play this month across four competitions: three in LaLiga, two in the UEFA Champions League, one in the Copa del Rey last 16 and one (for now) in the Supercopa de España.
On top of that, the opening of the winter transfer window already has brought change to Diego Simeone’s squad, as Javi Galán has moved to Osasuna and Carlos Martín has been loaned to Rayo Vallecano (who have an option to buy the player in June). It’s going to be an interesting month.
Real Sociedad (4-5-8, 17 points) sit a disappointing 16th in the table and have struggled all season to score goals, which resulted in the dismissal of first-year manager Sergio Francisco three weeks ago. La Real appointed Pellegrino Matarazzo as their new boss before Christmas, and the American is taking over a team that is underachieving but talented; he will be optimistic of a winning start amid news that winger Ander Barrenetxea is returning to the squad after a three-week absence.
Team news
Atlético have to contend with the absences of Nico Gonzalez (hamstring) and Clément Lenglet (knee) at Reale Arena, but Simeone will be delighted to have recovered two key players over the holiday break.
Álex Baena and Josema Giménez missed all but one game in December due to injury, but both players will return to the squad on Sunday. Giménez, facing renewed competition for his place from rising star Marc Pubill, is expected to be named to the bench, while Baena is likely to start in place of the injured Nico.
The only change Simeone may make at the back is Robin Le Normand, who has not started in LaLiga since October. Le Normand would displace Matteo Ruggeri, while Dávid Hancko would move to left-back in place of the Italian. There still appears to be no place for Johnny Cardoso in the Atleti midfield, as Koke and Pablo Barrios are expected to remain Simeone’s preferred pairing. Up top, former Real Sociedad striker Alexander Sørloth is in line to make his fourth successive start next to Julián Alvarez, who has not scored a non-penalty goal in LaLiga since Sept. 27.
Possible 11 Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko; Koke, Barrios, Giuliano, Baena; Alvarez, Sørloth.
