Atletico Madrid moved up to fourth in La Liga by claiming a 2-0 win over Real Sociead at the Anoeta.
Antoine Griezmann broke the deadlock against his former side in just the ninth minute when he sprinted through the home defence before finding the net with a fine chipped finish.
Sociedad struggled to create chances, but it was a controversial finish as the hosts were denied a penalty in stoppage time before Yannick Ferreira Carrasco clinched the win moments.
Diego Reyes has already been sent off late on, and substitute Jonathas was then dismissed for taking his protests too far in a frantic finish.
Read below to find out how the drama unfolded.
Good afternoon everyone! Ready for some La Liga action? Yeah, me too. Real Sociedad have struggled in the early stages of the season and David Moyes will be desperate to bring the best out of his players following the international break. Tasks do not come much tougher than meeting Atletico Madrid, though, as the visitors look to close the gap on the sides at the top.
After Celta Vigo's 2-1 win over Villarreal earlier in the day, they are now level with Real Madrid and Barcelona on 18 points. Atletico are five back with a game in hand and they will move into fourth spot with a victory this afternoon. Diego Simeone's side recovered from a defeat to Villarreal by playing out a 1-1 draw with Real before the international break.
Is Moyes under pressure to save his job? The former Everton and Manchester United boss has seen his current side win just one of their seven La Liga games this season and only goal difference is keeping them out of the relegation zone. He needs an improvement from the squad today.
REAL SOCIEDAD: Rulli; De La Bella, Reyes, Martinez, Zaldua; Illarramendi, Bergara; Vela, Canales, Zurutuza; Agirretxe
SUBS: Mikel Gonzales, Bruma, Xabi Prieto, Oier, Ruben Pardo, Yuri, Jonathas
SUBS: Mikel Gonzales, Bruma, Xabi Prieto, Oier, Ruben Pardo, Yuri, Jonathas
Moyes does not have Granero available due to a hamstring injury, but Inigo Martinez is also in at centre-back after pulling out of the Spain squad. Predictably, it is Carlos Vela and Sergio Canales who provide support for Imanol Agirretxe in attack.
ATLETICO: Oblak; Luis, Godin, Gimenez, Juanfran; Tiago, Gabi, Koke; Correa, Griezmann, Martinez
SUBS: Moya, Siqueira, Torres, Oliver, Savic, Saul, Carrasco
SUBS: Moya, Siqueira, Torres, Oliver, Savic, Saul, Carrasco
The big news for Atletico is that Koke returns from a four-week absence to start in midfield. Antoine Greizmann, Jackson Martinez and Angel Correa lead the attack, while Fernando Torres is forced to settle for a spot on the bench. Luciano Vietto misses out due to injury.
4 - Atlético have won four of their last five games in the Anoeta (D1), more than at any other away ground since 10/11. Guest
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 18, 2015
Griezmann as a late substitute when Atletico lost to his former side last season, but he starts this afternoon and admits that it will be a difficult place to visit.
© Getty Images
"It's always a complicated place [to visit]," the France international told reporters. "I remember when I was a player of Real Sociedad, the fans and the players were very excited to play against the big teams and we gave our all."
PREDICTION: As always for Atletico, Griezmann is the key man and he will be motivated to deliver the goods against his former side. Sociedad need a result, but they need a defensive improvement to stand any chance. A good start is imperative for the hosts, but I'm going for a 2-1 Atletico win.
Here we go then. The players are out on the pitch at the Anoeta and we're just a few handshakes away from the game getting started.
KICKOFF! Atletico quickly settle down with the ball as they wait patiently for space further up the pitch.
Good work from Vela out wide to earn space for the cross, but Agirretxe is unable to control the ball with two defenders close to him in the box.
CHANCE! First opportunity of the match created by the visitors as they move the ball quickly to find Filipe Luis out wide. His cross is met by Koke, who can only head over at the front post.
YELLOW CARD! Better from Sociedad as Canales and Zurutuza link up before the latter is brought down by Gimenez. A slightly harsh early booking follows for the defender.
Apart from that chance for Koke, Sociedad are coping well in the early stages and look comfortable when their midfield three can get on the ball.
GOAL! SOCIEDAD 0-1 ATLETICO (GRIEZMANN)
No celebration, but this is a stunning goal from Griezmann! There does not seem to be much on when he gets the ball in midfield, before the Frenchman shows his pace to skip past three defender. With just Rulli to beat, Griezmann chips the ball over the helpless goalkeeper. It's a fantastic opener.
Sociedad almost hit back when Agirretxe volleys over under pressure in the box as Atletico lose focus for a few moments, which brings a few angry words from Simeone on the touchline.
The locals are getting restless as Sociedad lose the ball a little too easily on a couple of occasions. Sociedad need to do something about their right side. Koke is causing problems when he drifts out there to link up with Luis. Martinez hits the bar with a fantastic volley, but replays prove that the assistant referee was right to put up his flag.
YELLOW CARD! This referee certainly has no problem with using his cards as Correa picks up a booking for chopping down Agirretxe. Silly tackle from the Argentine 30 yards from goal.
Canales fancies his chances with the 30-yard free kick, but Oblak has it covered as he watches the ball drift wide of the post.
Any followers of Spanish football will be fully aware that Atletico are not an easy team to beat after conceding the early goal. Tiago and Gabi really are running the show from deep in midfield already. Sociedad need to step up the tempo.
Ouch. Juanfran takes a painful blow to the head while challenging for the ball with Zuruzuta, but luckily the defender is fine to continue.
YELLOW CARD! Godin becomes the third Atletico player to pick up a booking when the referee decides that he halts Vela's run. I'm not sure how much the Uruguayan knew about it, though. Vela was running behind him as Godin backtracked with eyes on the ball.
Godin's furious protest delays the taking of the free kick, before Canales hits the wall with his latest effort.
YELLOW CARD! Bergara catches the attention of the referee, Simeone and a few Atletico players after catching Godin with a late challenge. The referee decides it is worthy of a booking.
Atletico have struggled to threaten since opening the scoring, and Sociedad seem to be growing in confidence. The hosts are lacking a cutting edge to their play as Vela runs out of options after taking the ball out wide on the right.
De La Bella does well to dig out a cross under pressure on the wing, but Agirretxe miscues an acrobatic attempt while running away from goal. Oblak still decides to punch clear. Why? I haven't got a clue.
YELLOW CARD! De La Bella is the latest player to pick up a booking after sending too many words in the referee's direction. It's Bergara who is lucky as he commits a second foul in the space of a minute by bringing down Martinez 25 yards from goal. He needs to be careful after already being booked. Griezmann's free kick is deflected over.
Atletico are managing the game impressively. It may only be a slender advantage, but they look in complete control at the back this afternoon. Martinez needs to probably hold the ball up a bit better to help the visitors break in numbers.
Excellent defending from Luis to clear the ball under pressure from Agirretxe in his six-yard box after Canales had found the space to deliver an inviting cross.
Much better spell from Sociedad, but the defensive work from Atletico is top class. Tiago and Gabi both make vital tackles on the edge of the box, before Griezmann dodges a couple of challenges to lead the visitors further up the pitch.
Clever football from Koke when a cleared cross lands at his feet. He holds the ball up on the wing before halting to win a free kick from Zaldua, who is too eager to get a foot in.
HALF TIME: SOCIEDAD 0-1 ATLETICO
There has not been much action in a first half controlled by Atletico, but the opening 45 minutes will be remembered for one moment of magic from Griezmann, who sprinted through the heart of the Sociedad defence to break the deadlock with a superb goal. Sociedad have struggled to cause problems since falling behind and they may need to change their approach slightly.
Just been informed that Koke has provided an assist to Griezmann for the first time. Not much an assist. A two-yard pass and watch the Frenchman do the rest!
Is it a day for a slight change from Sociedad? Moyes has Jonathas on the bench at the moment and the hosts may benefit from taking a more direct approach to the Brazilian striker, who would be a handful for booked defensive duo Gimenez and Godin.
RESTART! No changes at the break from either manager as Atletico get the game back underway.
Martinez hasn't seen much of the ball today, but he looks more threatening as he drops deep to take on Inigo. It should be a corner when Illarramendi comes in with the tackle but the touch is not spotted.
It's been a pretty quiet start to the second half as Oblak ends a promising spell from Sociedad by collecting Illarramendi's cross. Bergara is slightly luck to escape a second yellow after clattering into the goalkeeper. He'll surely be off after another foul. Atletico continue to look very comfortable in defence. Luis has picked up a booking.
Gabi and Tiago are running the show, which is allowing Koke to drift around searching or space. Simeone's side look happy to work on the break at the moment, but they'll want another goal.
Patient play from the visitors in midfield as they wait for space, and it is Juanfran who makes the run through. Rulli does well to sprint off his line and collect at the full-back's feet.
Quick feet displayed from Griezmann once again, but he is halted on the edge of the box by Inigo as an Atletico move breaks down.
Poor from Oblak as he spills a corner, but Jackson Martinez reacts quickest to head the ball away from danger as Sociedad enjoy a spell on top.
SUB! First change of the day from the visitors as Correa comes off to be replaced by Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.
SUB! Atletico are not keeping the ball as well as they were. Simeone makes another change as Fernando Torres comes on for Martinez. That could help the visitors on the counter.
It just isn't quite clicking for the home side. Illarramendi is a more prominent figure as he begins to see more of the ball further up the pitch in the hope that he can create chances, but they continue to lack a cutting edge in the final third.
Torres thinks he is through on goal when Atletico relieve the pressure with a clever lofted ball from Gimenez, but the former Chelsea striker is caught offside.
I don't like to see players being sent off, but Bergara has just brought down Torres and I make that the fourth foul the Sociedad midfielder has committed since picking up a booking. Sociedad must not lose a player at this stage.
SUB! First change from Moyes as Bruma replaces the ineffective Sergio Canales.
To be honest, it really has not been a great second half of football. The weather might be nice in San Sebastian, but there is not much happening on the pitch. Atletico are starting to see more of the ball, which is a concern for the hosts, who have still not created a chance.
For what I'm sure is the first time in the second half, Sociedad have a shot. However, it's poor from Illarramendi as he drags a speculative long-range strike wide.
Big opportunity for Atletico to kill the game off as Griezmann finds Carrasco in space, but his cross is blocked with Torres in a good position. Vela's effort is then deflected wide at the other end.
Sociedad are finally beginning to threaten! Oblak is left panicking when the ball falls to Zurutuza, who does the right thing by putting it back across the face of goal. There is no one in place to add the finishing touch as Simeone breathes a sigh of relief.
SUB! Has this change arrived too late? Zurutuza comes off as Jonathas is sent on to add a different threat to the attack. Ruben Pardo then replaces Bergara.
SUB! Griezmann is still the difference between the sides as he is replaced by Saul. Moments earlier, Vela had fired a shot over.
CHANCE! Diego Reyes picks up a booking for breaking up play as Atletico looked to break. Saul then almost makes an immediate impact as he skips a couple of challenges before hitting an effort at Rulli. Tiago sends the rebound over.
RED CARD! What a silly, silly boy. Reyes picks up a second booking in the space of two minutes for complaining about time-wasting from Atletico. Sociedad will finish the game with 10 men.
GOAL! REAL SOCIEAD 0-2 ATLETICO MADRID (CARRASCO)
The win is secured! It's all a bit chaotic in the closing stages at the Anoeta. Sociedad though they had a penalty, but Atletico break quickly and show their clinical edge as Carrasco fires home to secure the points.
RED CARD! It's a crazy finish. Sociedad are furious with the referee for not pointing to the spot. Jonathas went down after Gimenez made a strange attempt at stopping him with his head! Rulli and Pardo are both booked, and Jonathas went a step too far with his protests. He is dismissed, but you've got to feel for the striker.
FULL TIME: SOCIEDAD 0-2 ATLETICO
It's all over. Sociedad are still not happy and neither is Moyes, but you must sympathise with the hosts, who probably should have had that penalty in stoppage time. Atletico have capitalised to clinch the points and move up to fourth. Sociedad finished with nine men and the pressure is piled on Moyes. That's all from our live coverage. Thanks for joining me.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
