Ademola Lookman: Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid – Preview, team news, predictions & H2H

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman faces a tricky assignment on Sunday as Atletico Madrid travel to the Reale Arena to take on Real Sociedad in La Liga’s matchday five, Afrik-Foot reports.

Lookman has started all three of Atletico’s La Liga matches so far this season, scoring once in the 3-1 away victory at Sevilla on matchday three, a game in which Alex Baena netted twice.

The 28-year-old came off the bench during Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at Anfield but was unable to prevent a second consecutive away loss for Diego Simeone’s side.

Both clubs sit on seven points in the La Liga table, with Real Sociedad 11th and Atletico 8th, separated only by goal difference heading into the weekend.

Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid match preview

Real Sociedad lost their opening two fixtures on the road, falling 1-0 at Real Betis on matchday one and 4-1 at Real Madrid on matchday two.

Since those defeats, the Basque club are unbeaten in three. A 2-1 home win over Espanyol on August 29 marked the turning point.

A goalless draw with Celta Vigo followed on September 3, also at home, in a game brought forward from matchday six to accommodate Real Sociedad’s Europa League schedule.

Most recently, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side won 3-2 at Elche on September 7, with Job Ochieng scoring and Luka Sucic netting a 90th-minute winner after centre-back Jon Martin had been sent off in the second half.

The Reale Arena has been solid ground for Real Sociedad, who have conceded just one goal across two home league matches this season.

Atletico started the campaign in confident fashion at the Metropolitano, beating Malaga 2-0 on the opening weekend before drawing 2-2 with Villarreal on matchday two.

The 3-1 win at Sevilla on matchday three was their strongest display, with Baena scoring twice and Lookman completing the scoring.

That result, however, is the last time Atletico won a match. Athletic Bilbao overpowered Simeone’s side 3-0 at San Mamés on September 5, exposing defensive vulnerabilities away from home.

Three days later, Liverpool beat Atletico 2-1 at Anfield in the Champions League’s opening round, making it two defeats in three days for the visitors.

Sunday’s fixture at the Reale Arena is Atletico’s fourth consecutive away match across all competitions, a run that has produced one win, two defeats, and six goals conceded.

Baena is Atletico’s leading scorer in La Liga with three goals from four appearances, while Julian Alvarez is now fully fit and available to start alongside him in attack.

Head-to-Head record: Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico are unbeaten in their last 13 La Liga meetings with Real Sociedad, a sequence dating back to September 2019.

The corresponding fixture at the Reale Arena last season finished 1-1, while Atletico won 3-2 at the Metropolitano in March 2026.

Over the past 36 meetings between both sides across all competitions, Atletico Madrid have the upper hand, winning 22 of those fixtures, while Real Sociedad have won just six games, with eight draws between them.

Team news: Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid

Real Sociedad

Centre-back Jon Martin is suspended after receiving a red card for handball during the win at Elche, a decision confirmed by VAR.

Igor Zubeldia and Mamadou Sarr are expected to form the central defensive partnership in his absence.

Alvaro Odriozola remains sidelined with the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained in February, with a return not expected until October.

Pablo Marin is a minor fitness doubt, but the rest of the squad is reported to be available.

Oyarzabal will captain the side once more, with Orri Oskarsson leading the line and Ander Barrenetxea occupying the left flank.

Atletico Madrid

Pablo Barrios will miss the trip to San Sebastian after sustaining a low-grade myofascial injury in his right leg during the defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday.

Alexander Sorloth has not featured this season due to a muscular contracture sustained on August 12 in pre-season.

Morten Hjulmand, the summer signing from Sporting CP, is expected to replace Barrios in central midfield alongside captain Koke.

Lookman will continue in his usual position on the left of midfield.

Star player comparison: Ademola Lookman vs Mikel Oyarzabal

The managers: Diego Simeone vs Pellegrino Matarazzo

Diego Simeone has been at the helm at Atletico since December 2011, winning La Liga in 2020-21 and reaching two Champions League finals during his tenure.

Last season, his side reached the Champions League semi-finals before elimination by Arsenal, and lost the Copa del Rey final on penalties to this same Real Sociedad side.

The departures of Nahuel Molina to Roma, Matteo Ruggeri to Aston Villa and Jose Gimenez on loan to Deportivo have left Atletico’s defence in transition, with new signings Romero and Hancko still bedding in.

Pellegrino Matarazzo took charge of Real Sociedad in December 2025 and delivered a Copa del Rey title within months, beating Atletico in the final at La Cartuja.

The American-born coach, who previously managed Stuttgart and Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, guided Real Sociedad to a 10th-place finish in La Liga last season and into the Europa League for this campaign.

His approach at the Reale Arena has been built around defensive organisation and quick transitions, a shape that has produced one goal conceded in two home league fixtures so far.

Tactical preview: Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid

Matarazzo has deployed a 4-2-3-1 through the early rounds, with Benat Turrientes and Yangel Herrera as the double pivot and Oyarzabal operating between the lines behind Oskarsson.

Width comes from Barrenetxea on the left and Jon Aramburu’s overlapping runs on the right, a combination that caused Espanyol particular problems on matchday three.

Martin’s suspension reshuffles the centre of defence, but the tactical framework should remain intact.

Simeone’s 4-4-2 positions Lookman on the left of midfield and Giuliano Simeone on the right, with Baena and Alvarez forming the front two.

The loss of Barrios brings Hjulmand into the middle alongside Koke, adding defensive stability but reducing the forward passing that Barrios offered.

Atletico’s most exposed weakness across the last two away defeats has been the space between midfield and defence under high pressing, an area Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool both targeted to score.

Lookman’s pace and directness make him Atletico’s most dangerous outlet on the counter, and his willingness to cut inside from the left could test Aramburu if the Venezuelan full-back commits forward.

The combination of Atletico’s travel fatigue and Real Sociedad’s controlled tempo at home suggests the hosts will dictate the pace of the contest.

Real Sociedad vs Atlético Madrid predictions and betting tips

Score prediction: Real Sociedad vs Atlético Madrid