Real Sociedad manager Pellegrino Matarazzo omitted goalkeeper Aitor Fraga and forward Gorka Carrera from the matchday squad for the Liga fixture. The keeper and the Sanse forward were the last-minute cuts from an initial 25-man list.
Aitor Fraga and Gorka Carrera will watch the match from the stands. They join the injured Álvaro Odriozola and Jon Pacheco, the latter ruled out on Wednesday. This decision leaves the txuri-urdin bench without a natural centre-forward option, as the attacking starters are Ander Barrenetxea, Takefusa Kubo, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Icelandic striker Andri Guðjohnsen. This offensive gamble means midfielders Yangel Herrera and Beñat Turrientes will have to cover a lot of ground in the centre of the park. The full squad status can be checked on our injuries page.
The main novelty is the inclusion of Héctor Fort, called up for the first time by Matarazzo. The right-back, who watched last Saturday's win over Espanyol from the directors' box, now takes a spot on the bench with a chance to make his debut in the second half. Summer signing Mamadou Sarr is also in the squad for the second consecutive time and could get minutes after the break. The first-team squad, with these movements, reflects the coaching staff's trust in a compact unit. Real Sociedad's typical starting lineup for the 2026/27 season can be reviewed in the squad section.
Matarazzo is betting on a setup with four attackers, with Oyarzabal playing behind Guðjohnsen and flanked by Kubo and Barrenetxea. This formation requires a significant work rate from the central midfielders to balance the team. With Odriozola and Pacheco injured, the defence relies on Robin Le Normand, Igor Zubeldia, and Aihen Muñoz, with Álex Remiro in goal. The team approaches this phase of the competition looking to consolidate its position near the top of the standings.
The first team's next official commitment is a Liga match at the Reale Arena. This fixture, scheduled for the weekend, presents a new challenge for a side aiming to maintain its positive momentum. The full schedule of official matches is available in our fixtures calendar.
