Real Sociedad – Atlético: Going for the podium… where it hit rock bottom

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Finish in the final drawer of LaLiga. That is played Athletic tonight, never better said, playing at 10:00 p.m., at the Reale Arena. A victory against Real Sociedad would ensure the rojiblancos stay above Sevilla. Not adding the three points would force, precisely, to look at Sánchez Pizjuán to find out if the 20-21 LaLiga champion achieves the minor objective, with that precedent, of finishing first in LaLiga played by the 18 teams that are not Barça and Real Madrid.

It seems little, that is how they understand it in the booth itself, taking into account that today, precisely on May 22, 2022, it is one year since that historic afternoon in Valladolid. From the day Correa and Luis Suárez certified the three points… and the championship. In 365 Atlético has fallen prey to irregularity and a defensive weakness unbecoming of a Simeone team. The Argentine, out there, yesterday analyzed what the team has lacked in order to retain the crown. Or at least to try until the end, something that was expected with the current squad.

El Cholo also commented on all the difficulties that the club has experienced after the aforementioned conquest of Pucela. He also blamed himself for the unexpected results and for falling so early in the fight that he likes, the one for the titles. Those that he raised a year ago to eight since he arrived more than a decade ago.

The rojiblancos know that the rival will not be easy. In this difficult campaign, one of the worst moments came precisely with Real as a rival. It wasn’t in the League, but it was in a Cup that the Metropolitano team hasn’t won for nine years… and without even getting close to the grand final. The title that changed the mentality in derbies in 2013 has become a nightmare.

That 2-0 at the Reale Arena was one of the lowest moments of the course for Atlético. After losing LaLiga in December (four defeats in a row), not fighting for the Arabian Super Cup against Athletic in the first fortnight of January… the coup came with a very poor image and a feeling of helplessness and lack of attitude that has marked not a few games for the rojiblancos in the season that draws its final curtain tonight.

Hence the importance of winning today. She fastens the third place and partially erases from memory that day that ended the cupbearer’s dream. Double objective for the hosts of a Simeone who looks strong to continue despite this complicated campaign.

An ambitious Royal

Real Sociedad will no longer be able to move up one place today and finish fifth if they beat Atlético after Betis’ draw on Friday at the Bernabéu. If he could achieve his best points record with Imanol Alguacil at the helm, 65, and be the third best txuriurdin team in the modern era, only behind the two that qualified for the Champions League.

La Real celebrated in style last Sunday in Vila-Real their victory against Unai Emery’s teamby qualifying for the third year in a row for the Europa League, something that very few LaLiga teams can say they have done, but the wish of Imanol and his team was to be able to repeat fifth place and that is now impossible.

Tonight’s match will not have, therefore, qualifying value for the locals, but it does have many other incentives, in addition to always winning in front of your fans. The Real del Oriotarra, if it wins, would exceed the great figure of 64 points with Eusebio Sacristánwhich also served to be sixth, and would only be behind the 76 of the runner-up with Raynald Denoueix, in 2002-03, and the 66 of the fourth classified with Philippe Montanier, in 2012-13.

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