Real Sociedad lost 4-1 to Real Madrid in the opening match of the 2026-27 La Liga season. The game was played on August 26 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, leaving the Basque side in 14th place in the table after the first matchday.
Manager Imanol Alguacil was unavailable, so Matarazzo took charge on the bench. La Real started the match with possession and showed ambition in the first half. The reward came in the 43rd minute when a long pass found Kenyan striker Ochieng. His shot was blocked by defender Konaté, but Croatian Luka Sucic appeared to slot home the rebound past the Madrid goalkeeper, making it 1-1 temporarily. The original match report was published by EL PAÍS.
How did Real Madrid react after halftime?
The home team came out transformed after the break. Manager J. M. Benítez said after the match: "I saw the team plugged in, with a lot of desire." That talk had an immediate effect, as Madrid scored three more goals in the second half to seal the victory.
Real Sociedad, who also started the second half with the ball, could not contain the onslaught. A serious error by txuri-urdin player Beitia in playing out from the back led directly to one of Madrid's goals. Goalkeeper Álex Remiro, despite conceding four, made several notable saves to prevent a more lopsided scoreline.
What changes did Matarazzo make during the match?
The interim manager made three substitutions from the bench to try and react. In the 57th minute, he brought off Aramburu and Mikel Oyarzabal, bringing on Zubeldia and striker Óskarsson. Nine minutes later, in the 66th, it was the turn of Ochieng and Yangel Herrera, replaced by Ander Barrenetxea and Carlos Soler.
The final change came in the 74th minute when Japanese winger Takefusa Kubo left the pitch to make way for Gonçalo Guedes. Barrenetxea, recently introduced, was involved in a counter-attack that did not result in a goal. The modifications did not change the course of the match, which ended with the final score of 4-1 at 16:59 EDT.
What is Real Sociedad's current situation?
After this defeat on matchday 1, Real Sociedad's season record stands at 3 points from 3 games, with one win and two losses. This places them 14th in La Liga. The team has scored 3 goals and conceded 6, for a -3 goal difference. They are 6 points behind the leader, which is Real Madrid.
The team is facing this league start with some significant absences. Players Pablo Marín and Álvaro Odriozola are currently on the injured list, information that can be checked in detail on our injuries page. Their return will be key to strengthening the team's options in the coming weeks.
What's next for the Basque side?
Real Sociedad's next fixture is a home match against Celta Vigo, scheduled for September 3, 2026. The Galician side currently occupies 18th place, making it an opportunity to take three points at the Reale Arena. All fixture information is available in our fixtures section.
To climb the table, the team needs to improve its defensive performance and be more effective in attack. The next week of training will be important to correct the errors seen at the Bernabéu and approach the clash with Celta with guarantees. The current standings, which can be followed on the league table, show the need for an immediate reaction.
