Atlético Madrid – Real Sociedad: Atlético Eke Over The Line Towards Title Charge (2-1)

While their rivals fell before them, Atlético Madrid hoped to put one hand on the LaLiga crown with a win in this duel. Amid the carousel at the top of the table, the hosts blocked out the chaos, and put in a solid display to shut down Real Sociedad. Working from a flexible 4-3-3 shape, they proved the superior outfit, seeing out a nervy conclusion to pass the sternest test left in their end-of-season fixtures.

Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

The stars may be aligning for Atlético Madrid to break their duck. Slipping up time and again in the new year, it looked like a matter of time until the big two in Spain made up for their slow starts to the league season. But coming into this game off the back of another Barcelona draw, for the second time in three days, the home team could extend their lead at the top of the table to four points with a win.

Though the top four is far out of reach, Real Sociedad still had something to battle for with three games left to play of the season. Three wins from their last four matchups have seen the guests move back into fifth place, four points clear of Villarreal. Facing their toughest test on the home stretch for the campaign, a result here would go a long way to tightening their hold on a . . .