Atletico Madrid will aim to maintain their slim chances of winning the LaLiga title when they host Real Sociedad at the Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday.
Diego Simeone's team is currently 12 points behind league leaders Barcelona with only four matches left, making it unlikely for Atletico to clinch the title even with a perfect finish to the season.
Meanwhile, Sociedad sits in 11th place, just one point behind eighth-placed Rayo Vallecano and trailing seventh-placed Celta Vigo by two points.
Team news
Atletico will be missing Julian Alvarez due to suspension, and Rodrigo Riquelme is uncertain due to injury.
Sociedad will be without striker Orri Oskarsson for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, and there are doubts surrounding defenders Igor Zubeldia and Alvaro Odriozola.
The stats
Atletico has won only one of their last three matches, significantly impacting their LaLiga title hopes.
The team has won their last two home games with over 2.5 goals scored, and there have been three or more goals in their last three league matches at the Metropolitano.
On the other hand, Sociedad is winless in their last four matches, drawing two and losing two, while failing to score in three of those games.
However, Sociedad has shown better goal-scoring form away from home, finding the net in five of their last six away games in all competitions.
Prediction
With recent setbacks against Las Palmas and Alaves, Atletico's hopes for the league title are fading, and their focus may have shifted towards the upcoming Club World Cup starting in June.
While a top-five finish securing Champions League football seems almost certain for Atletico, coach Simeone is unlikely to allow his team to ease off in the remaining matches, aiming to build momentum for the Club World Cup.
Sociedad is also striving for a European finish, and despite recent goal droughts, playing away might help them regain their scoring touch.
In addition, 10 of La Real's last 11 away matches have seen over 2.5 goals, and the last four meetings against Atletico at the Metropolitano have produced three or more goals.
Considering the goal-scoring trends of both teams, Saturday's match is expected to be an exciting encounter with over 2.5 goals likely to be seen.