Julian Alvarez ruled out of Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad La Liga clash
Synopsis
Atletico Madrid's La Liga trip to Real Sociedad just got considerably harder — Julian Alvarez, their key attacking weapon who played 90 minutes against Liverpool at Anfield just days ago, has been ruled out with a muscle strain. With Pablo Barrios and Alexander Sørloth also unavailable, Simeone heads to San Sebastián desperate for points and dangerously short of firepower.
Key Takeaways
Julian Alvarez has been ruled out of Atletico Madrid's La Liga match against Real Sociedad on 13 September due to a muscle strain.
The injury was sustained during Saturday's training session and confirmed by medical tests.
Alvarez had played the full 90 minutes in Atletico's Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield just days earlier.
Pablo Barrios and Alexander Sørloth are also unavailable, severely limiting Simeone's attacking options.
Atletico Madrid sit eighth in La Liga after four matches — two wins, one draw, one loss — and have lost their last two games.
Julian Alvarez has been ruled out of Atletico Madrid's La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad on 13 September after sustaining a muscle strain during training, dealing a significant blow to manager Diego Simeone's already depleted attacking options. The Argentine forward was set to travel to San Sebastián but was withdrawn after medical tests confirmed the injury.
What Atletico Madrid Said
The club issued an official statement confirming Alvarez's absence: 'Julian is not travelling to San Sebastián due to muscle strain, which forced him to withdraw from yesterday's training session. After the relevant tests, the medical staff have ruled out his participation in today's match.'
The injury was identified following Saturday's training session, ruling him out before the squad's departure for the Reale Arena.
Alvarez's Recent Form and Timing of the Setback
The timing is particularly unfortunate for the Argentine striker, who had only recently reclaimed his place in Simeone's starting eleven. He featured for the full 90 minutes in Atletico's UEFA Champions League encounter against Liverpool at Anfield last Wednesday, underscoring his importance to the side before the injury struck.
This latest setback arrives at a critical juncture, with Atletico reeling from back-to-back defeats — first to Athletic Club at San Mamés in La Liga, and then to Liverpool in European competition. Simeone's side are desperate to arrest that slide.
Attacking Crisis Deepens for Simeone
Alvarez's absence compounds an already serious attacking shortage at the club. Pablo Barrios and Alexander Sørloth are also unavailable, leaving Simeone with severely limited choices in the forward line ahead of the San Sebastián trip.
The pressure on the available squad members to step up has rarely been greater, with Atletico seeking to restore confidence and points in equal measure.
Where Atletico Stand in La Liga
Atletico Madrid currently sit eighth in the La Liga standings after four matches, having won two, drawn one, and lost one. The 11-time Spanish champions will be hoping a positive result at the Reale Arena against Real Sociedad can kickstart a turnaround in what has been a stuttering opening to the campaign.
All eyes will be on how Simeone reshapes his attack without Alvarez, and whether Atletico can find the right combination to break down a resilient Real Sociedad side on home turf.
Point of View
Already chasing their best-placed rivals, and a narrow attacking rotation makes them brittle precisely when the fixture list demands resilience. The Reale Arena is no easy assignment even at full strength.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Julian Alvarez not playing against Real Sociedad?
Julian Alvarez has been ruled out of Atletico Madrid's La Liga match against Real Sociedad on 13 September due to a muscle strain sustained during Saturday's training session. Medical tests confirmed he cannot play, and the club issued an official statement to that effect.
Who else is unavailable for Atletico Madrid against Real Sociedad?
Alongside Julian Alvarez, Pablo Barrios and Alexander Sørloth are also ruled out, leaving manager Diego Simeone with very limited attacking options for the trip to San Sebastián.
How has Atletico Madrid been performing in La Liga this season?
Atletico Madrid are currently eighth in the La Liga table after four matches, having won two, drawn one, and lost one. They have also suffered back-to-back defeats — to Athletic Club in La Liga and Liverpool in the Champions League — heading into the Real Sociedad fixture.
When did Julian Alvarez last play before this injury?
Alvarez played the full 90 minutes in Atletico Madrid's UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield last Wednesday, just days before being forced to withdraw from training with the muscle strain.
Where is the Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad match being played?
The La Liga match is being played at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián, which is Real Sociedad's home ground. Atletico Madrid are the travelling side for this fixture.
