Two of La Liga's form sides meet at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday as Atletico Madrid take on David Moyes's Real Sociedad.
Neither side has lost in at least four matches, but something has to give this week. Will it be Atletico's slim title bid, or Sociedad's ambitions of finishing in the top half?
Atletico
Although they are unbeaten in their last six matches, the title that Atletico won last season to rock Spain is slipping away from them as the top two show no signs of letting up.
A 2-0 win over bottom-placed Cordoba took Madrid to within six points of leaders Barcelona, but the Catalan giants will restore their healthy cushion should they win their game in hand against Celta Vigo on Sunday.
A Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Real Madrid put nine past Granada this morning and they appear Barca's only legitimate challengers, with Atletico's priority now to ensure that they finish in the top four of the table.
Three successive draws at the start of March put paid to Atletico's title hopes and allowed Sevilla and Valencia to gain ground in the race for the final two Champions qualifying spots. Only four points separate the three sides with nine games of the season remaining.
Ensuring that they are again competing in a competition that they have contributed a lot to over the past two campaigns - coming so close in the final last year and reaching the last eight this term - is imperative to Madrid's chance of long-term sustainability.
Without the allure of Europe's top club tournament, Atletico may find it difficult to attract players of the calibre of Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic, as they did last summer. Perhaps more significantly, they would also risk losing their sought-after manager.
The signings of Griezmann and Mandzukic are enjoying contrasting fortunes in the capital. The Frenchman has an impressive 15 goals in 20 La Liga starts and, although Mandzukic has 20 in all competitions himself, his backstage bust-up with Diego Simeone leaves his future at the club in doubt.
Recent form: WDDDWW
Recent form (all competitions): DDDWWW
Real Sociedad
Moyes will be fairly encouraged with how his first four months with Sociedad have transpired. He arrived with no experience of managing in a foreign league and a huge cloud hanging over his head following his notorious failure at Manchester United.
While there has been no great movement in Sociedad's league position - they were 12th upon his appointment and are now 10th in the standings - he has at least guided the club safely clear of relegation trouble.
Now 12 points above the bottom three, the Basque outfit are safe to stop looking over their shoulders and instead focus on trying to stay in the top half of the table.
Two 1-0 victories in a three-match winning run prior to the international break suggested that Sociedad are slowly adapting to Moyes's ways, and Ruben Pardo's late equaliser against Malaga on Saturday ensured that they are unbeaten in four games.
Finishing as high as eighth remains a realistic possibility, with the side who currently occupy that spot, Athletic Bilbao only two points ahead of them. That would be a reasonable start to Moyes's tenure, especially considering that he has been without the injured Carlos Vela for much of his reign.
Their away form continues to be a concern though - they have only won once on their travels in the league all season.
Recent form: WLWWWD
Team News
The visitors are still without former Arsenal striker Vela. The Mexican has not played since January but remains their top league scorer with seven goals. No wonder Moyes is reportedly after Burnley's Danny Ings to boost his attacking ranks.
Imanol Agirretxe will continue to lead the Sociedad line in Vela's absence, and Pardo may get a start in place of Esteban Granero after his goal off the bench against Malaga. Defenders Yuri Berchiche and Alberto de la Bella are unavailable.
Mandzukic's fractious relationship with Simeone and his early withdrawal last time out may present Torres with a starting opportunity. For the second of two games in three days, Simeone may rotate his other attacking options and therefore Arda Turan is in line for a recall.
Atletico also have the luxury of having the depth to freshen things up in midfield and defence. Guilherme Siqueira and Mario Suarez could start as Gabi and Jesus Gamez sit out.
Jan Oblak and Jose Gimenez have been in fine form deputising for Miguel Moya and Miranda and shall continue in the back five. Raul Garcia and Raul Jimenez are expected to be missing for the hosts.
Atletico possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Gamez, Giminez, Godin, Siqueira; Tiago, Koke, Suarez; Griezmann, Turan, Torres
Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Martinez, Yuri, Ansotegui, Zaldua; Bergara, Prieto, Canales, Pardo, Castro; Agirretxe
Head To Head
Sociedad won a feisty reverse fixture, in which there were nine yellow cards and a red for Siqueira, just prior to Moyes's appointment in November.
Aside from a 4-0 thrashing last season, from which none of the goalscorers will feature for Madrid on Tuesday, Real also have a decent recent record at the Calderon, having previously avoided defeat there three times on the bounce.
We say: Atletico 2-1 Sociedad
Atletico are incredibly difficult to beat on their own patch, having lost just once at the Calderon all season, while Sociedad have won only once on the road this campaign. Real will be in good spirits, though, and will at least put up a valiant effort in a losing cause.
