Real Sociedad vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Siqueira: Intensity is our keyword

Guilherme Siqueira has warned the rest of the Primera Liga that Atletico Madrid will fear no-one as they target the top of the table.

Atletico head into Sunday's trip to struggling Real Sociedad sitting in third place, but only a point adrift of leaders Real Madrid after a run of eight wins and just one defeat in their last nine games in all competitions.

That has left Diego Simeone's men brimming with confidence, and Brazilian full-back Siqueira has revealed the mentality instilled by the coaching staff has increased their determination to continue to mix it with the big boys.

He told the club's official website, www.clubatleticodemadrid.com: "We go match by match. We can compete with any team. We know our limitations and we prepare to win against the best.

"The mentality of the coaching staff is seen through the players. That is what Simeone preaches. We know what we play for and what we have to do on the field. Intensity is our keyword.

"The team keeps growing in all facets of the game, and that's positive because we have footballers on this team to play attractive and beautiful games.

"We are following a good path and we must continue on it."

Only Valencia to date have claimed three points from the men from Madrid with Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo both emerging with draws, leaving them with 23 points from their 10 games, one more than fifth-placed Barcelona.

They are prospering too in Europe, where a 2-0 win over Malmo in Sweden on Tuesday evening left them three points clear at the top of Champions League Group A with just two games left to play.

The form of their hosts at the Anoeta Stadium on Sunday could hardly be in starker contrast with Sociedad languishing just one place and a single point off the foot of the table with only one league victory to their name.

Remarkably, that came against the current leaders on August 31 when, after trailing 2-0 at home with just 11 minutes played, Jagoba Arrasate's men hit back to score four times unanswered.

However, their last eight games have produced just three draws, the most recent of them a fortnight ago at bottom-of-the-table Cordoba when Xisco's late equaliser denied them a precious victory.