Goalkeeper Remiro aims for a clean sheet

Like all other La Liga games on matchday 38, this clash is all about a respectable farewell to the fans and the season. On paper, it is the top match between sixth and fourth, but in terms of the table, there is nothing at stake. Atletico have secured the Champions League, Real Sociedad the Europa League

For both teams, it’s all about a decent last game of the season, but for one player there is still something at stake: Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro could be named best goalkeeper of the season for the first time ever. To do so, he will need to keep a clean sheet and get some help from other stadiums. Of course, this is not out of the question, even if the duel is very evenly matched and Real Sociedad are likely to be the favorites at best, as the odds for Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid make clear

What speaks in favor of the home side, what possibly speaks in favor of Remiro’s hoped-for nil, which tips are available, what is the form of both teams? We look at all of this in this Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid preview, including betting odds, predictions, betting tips and team checks for both clubs

Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form

After a rather mediocre second half of the season with a total of ten games without a win, Real Sociedad achieved their minimum goal after all thanks to a small final spurt – three wins in the last four games: qualification for the Europa League. Although they had originally set out with the aim of making it back to the Champions League this year, where they were at least able to cause a stir in the group stage in the fall, fourth place was out of reach early on.

As Athletic Bilbao, who finished fifth, won the Copa del Rey and therefore automatically received a place in the Europa League, sixth place also entitles them to participate in Europe’s second-largest competition. Real Sociedad achieved this last matchday in a direct final. The Basques hosted runners-up Betis and won 2:0, securing sixth place and a place in the EL.

Real Sociedad: Goalkeeper Remiro can win TW award

The aim now is to say a fitting farewell to the fans at the Reale Arena on Saturday afternoon – ideally, of course, with a win in front of their own fans. After all, “La Real” have only conceded four home defeats and have only conceded 18 goals at home – the fourth-best figure in La Liga – which suggests that they will at least not lose.

The team will also be keen to keep things tight at the back, as goalkeeper Alex Remiro could yet win the Zamora Award for best goalkeeper. This requires a game without conceding a goal and goals from opponents Marc-André ter Stegen (plays with Barcelona at Sevilla) and Unai Simon (plays with Athletic Bilbao at Rayo Vallecano). Remiro already has 15 white vests to his name, and with their strong defense and Atletico’s weakness on the road, a clean sheet for the home side could be a valid bet. Interwetten, for example, is offering odds of 3.20 on the Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid betting tip that the visitors will not score.

Predicted line-up for Real Sociedad:

Atletico Madrid – Statistics & current form

The last matchday was a success for Real Sociedad, but an unexpected disappointment for Atletico Madrid. The Rojiblancos surprisingly and clearly lost 4-1 at home to Osasuna and caused displeasure. It was only their second home defeat, but the manner in which they lost left coach Diego Simeone perplexed.

This will be the first time Atletico have finished a full season outside the top three under Simeone. In the eleven previous years, Atletico always finished third or better. Only in Simeone’s debut season in 2011/12, when he only took over as coach in the winter break, have they finished lower than fifth place

Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid: Will Simeone’s side show a reaction?

The disappointment ran deep for the legendary Rojiblancos manager: “There’s a first time for everything,” said the Argentinian, who is now naturally hoping for a reaction from his team in the final game of the season. But winning away from home will not be easy, and not just because of Real Sociedad’s home record and defensive strength. Atletico are often quite vulnerable away from home this season. Atletico have already conceded eight away defeats and won just seven away games.

They have also failed to win four out of five away games in the Champions League. Given this record at their opponents’ ground this season, it’s understandable why the odds on Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid are averaging 3.00 for the visitors to win. Very exciting value, but there is also a risk involved in betting on the Simeone team in San Sebastian.

Predicted line-up of Atletico Madrid:

Real Sociedad – Atletico Madrid head-to-head comparison / H2H result

What speaks in favor of the visitors from the capital is their recent record: Real Sociedad have won just one of the last ten head-to-head meetings – and that was in the Copa del Rey (2022 round of 16). Real Sociedad’s last league treble dates back to September 2019, so it’s been a while.

The duels have always been contested and close, but Atletico have won three of the last four by 2:1 – including the first meeting on matchday 9 of the first half of the season.

The overall record in La Liga also favors the Rojiblancos from the Spanish capital, who have won 76 of the 155 encounters. Real Sociedad have won 45 so far, while 34 matches have ended in a draw

Real Sociedad – Atletico Madrid betting tip

Fought, close, even – these are adjectives that can be used to describe this pairing very well. A tip in the three-way is tricky and difficult to predict, we would most likely favor the draw. The Basques from San Sebastian have already won twelve of them and are particularly difficult to break down at home. Real Sociedad have also kept a clean sheet in three of their last four games – all wins. However, there have also been a few phases this season in which the “Txuri-Urdin” themselves have had problems scoring goals

In view of the fact that the teams have nothing at stake, it is difficult to say whether there will be a thrilling exchange of blows or whether both teams will tend to keep things tight at the back and the score will drift towards 0-0. Keeper Remiro naturally has the latter in mind as he aims to win the trophy for best keeper with a clean sheet. In view of the home side’s stable home defense and the fact that the team wants to help Remiro win the individual award, we believe that the game will start with a feeling-out process – after all, nobody wants to lose the last game of the season anyway.

We therefore favor a 0-0 draw at the break in Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid, also because the odds on this offer good value in a game that could well end in a draw. Possibly just with the aforementioned 0-0, which would allow both to save face – and possibly give Remiro the award for best goalkeeper