Simeone admits Atletico is missing Sorloth badly
Atletico Madrid has suffered back-to-back defeats to Athletic Club and Liverpool, and is still waiting on Alexander Sorloth's return from injury.
Sorloth scored 20 goals in 57 appearances – only 28 of which were starts – across all competitions last season, including the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Norway international is yet to feature this season because of a muscle issue, and Julian Alvarez was the only player to match that goal tally for Los Colchoneros.
Sorloth has missed Atleti's first four games in LaLiga, from which it has taken seven points, as well as last week's UEFA Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Ahead of a meeting with another side that have seven points on the board, Simeone said there was still no timeline for Sorloth's return.
"We spoke to him yesterday. He's screwed up by this time that he can't help us. No footballer has his characteristics," Simeone said.
"But this is the reality, we have to roll up our sleeves and work."
Simeone will also be unable to call upon Pablo Barrios in San Sebastian, after the midfielder sustained a right leg injury during Atleti's midweek loss to Liverpool.
Atleti is already off the pace set by two-time defending champion Barcelona, which has won its first four matches while plundering 17 goals and only conceding two.
But, having repeatedly said his team is going through a period of transition, Simeone is not too concerned about results elsewhere.
"We are not looking at what the others do; we are looking at what we do and within that we know the importance of tomorrow's game," he said.
"The opponent competes very well, they have a lot of intensity as a team and look for a way to get closer to controlling the game.
"In Bilbao [a 3-0 defeat last week] we did it in the first half, then a lack of control for a few minutes took us out of the game.
"Against Liverpool we defended well in the first half and controlled their attacks, but in the second half we had no chances to equalise.
"We need to have more balance in the 90 minutes, and then we will find our way again."
La Real's seven points have come from five games, after it beat Elche 3-2 last time out to extend its unbeaten streak to three matches, having opened the campaign with a pair of defeats to Real Betis and Real Madrid.
