Seven years without beating Atlético in LaLiga: Real Sociedad's long drought

Real Sociedad face Atlético de Madrid tonight in a league encounter loaded with recent history and one pending challenge that has dragged on for seven years. The Basque side have not managed to beat the Rojiblancos in LaLiga since September 14, 2019, when a 2-0 victory with goals from Martin Odegaard and Nacho Monreal sealed all three points. Since then, the balance in the domestic competition has clearly favored Diego Simeone's team.

• Real Sociedad have not beaten Atlético in LaLiga since September 14, 2019 (2-0 with goals from Odegaard and Monreal).
• Since then they have recorded eight defeats and five draws in the league campaign.
• Only Zubeldia, Oyarzabal and Remiro remain from the squad that earned that last league win.
• Real Sociedad beat Atlético in the Copa in April 2026 and in January 2022, both times 2-0.
• Apart from one 4-0 and two 0-2 results, every other league defeat against the Colchoneros came by a single goal.

How Real Sociedad's last league win over Atlético unfolded

September 14, 2019 remains etched in Real Sociedad's memory as the last time Atlético left a league match against them empty-handed. That afternoon, La Real won 2-0 with Martin Odegaard producing a standout performance and Nacho Monreal also finding the net. Nobody imagined back then that the result would become such a long-lasting memory.

Eight defeats and five draws: the toll of a seven-year drought

Since that victory, the numbers have been stubborn for Real Sociedad. In league play, Atlético have collected eight wins, three of them in San Sebastián, while the draws amount to five. The Colchoneros' dominance in LaLiga meetings has been built on generally tight scorelines, because apart from one 4-0 and two 0-2 results, every other Real Sociedad defeat came by a single goal.

That competitiveness in most of those matches is one of the reasons La Real believe they can finally break the streak tonight. The team has shown in many of those games that they can go toe-to-toe with Atlético, even if the final outcome has repeatedly slipped away from them.

The surviving players from that Real Sociedad dressing room

Only three names remain from the squad that defeated Atlético seven years ago. Igor Zubeldia and Mikel Oyarzabal started that day, while Álex Remiro watched from the bench, a position he seems set to occupy once again in tonight's match. Zubeldia is actually a late withdrawal due to discomfort.

The Copa del Rey as the exception: two Real Sociedad wins since 2019

While La Real have been unable to get the better of Atlético in LaLiga since 2019, the knockout competition has brought some joy. The most recent came on April 18, 2026, in a tie decided on penalties, a result that now serves as a psychological boost ahead of tonight's league match. Before that, in January 2022, the Basque side also won 2-0 in the Copa round of 16.

Those two cup victories show that Real Sociedad know how to compete against this Atlético side in direct elimination ties. The remaining challenge is to bring that same composure to the regular league season, where the pressure of the table and Simeone's tactical approach usually work against them.

What is at stake for Real Sociedad in tonight's match

Tonight's clash is not only about ending a seven-year run without a league win: it also carries weight in the standings. Real Sociedad are looking to strengthen their position in LaLiga and pick up three points that would allow them to look upward. In front of them will be an Atlético side used to punishing mistakes and managing high-stakes games with plenty of craft.