Real Sociedad's Spanish forward Carlos Fernandez (center) vies with Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Pablo Barrios (left) and Atletico Madrid's Spanish midfielder Koke during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Sociedad at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on May 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

MADRID - Real Sociedad suffered a 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid in LaLiga on Sunday, but secured a top-four finish and Champions League qualification after Villarreal also lost 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano.

With one round remaining, Real Sociedad are fourth with 68 points, five ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal.

Real Sociedad will join Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and LaLiga champions Barcelona in Europe's elite club competition next season.

ALSO READ: Real Sociedad makes nine wins to move joint second in La Liga

Atletico Madrid showed no mercy to Real Sociedad, with Antoine Griezmann scoring eight minutes before the break and Nahuel Molina doubling their lead after 73 minutes

Atletico Madrid showed no mercy to Sociedad, with Antoine Griezmann scoring eight minutes before the break and Nahuel Molina doubling their lead after 73 minutes.

Alexander Sorloth pulled one back for Sociedad in the 88th minute, but they could not find a leveller.

Espanyol will join the already-relegated Elche in the second tier after a 2-2 draw against Valencia earlier on Sunday.

The Barcelona-based club needed to win to maintain any chance of avoiding relegation, but their hopes were dashed when Valencia's Samuel Lino equalised three minutes into stoppage time.

READ MORE: Dominant Barcelona beat Espanyol to clinch 27th LaLiga title

"To get to this situation we have done many things wrong, but I think sincerely, from the most self-critical position personally and as a group, that we don't deserve this in this way," Espanyol midfielder Sergi Darder told Movistar.