Real Sociedad travel to Norway to face Lillestrom SK this Thursday, October 22, in the third matchday of the UEFA Europa League group stage. The game will be played at the Åråsen Stadion at 16:00 local time, with La Real arriving fifth in La Liga and buoyed by a big win in their last outing. The team sits fifth in the domestic league with 16 points from five wins, one draw and three losses over nine games.
The San Sebastian side approaches this clash with mixed fortunes in Europe, having drawn 1-1 against Union Saint-Gilloise last week. Benat Turrientes opened the scoring in Brussels, but a late goal denied them victory. In the league, however, momentum is positive. Their last match was a convincing 2-5 away win at Malaga on Sunday 18 October, with goals from Takefusa Kubo, Orri Steinn Óskarsson, a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and one from Gonçalo Guedes.
League context
Their record from nine games reads five wins, one draw and three defeats, with 17 goals scored and 17 conceded. In their last five matches across all competitions they have three wins, a draw and a loss, showing clear improvement after an uncertain start to the season. Their recent run includes a 2-3 win at Valencia and a 0-1 loss to Athletic Club. In the Europa League, the team's objective for this match is to take the three points and strengthen their group position, with the specific detail that the equalizing goal in Brussels came in the 87th minute.
The manager must decide whether to keep faith with the lineup that triumphed in La Rosaleda or make rotations with a busy schedule in mind. Next Sunday, October 25, brings an important home game against Levante, a direct rival in the relegation battle who currently sit 17th. Squad management will be key to handling this double challenge successfully. In attack, the team's top scorer in the league this season is L. Sučić, with three goals in eight appearances.
Lillestrom, for their part, are struggling in the Norwegian Eliteserien, which could play into the hands of a Real Sociedad side looking to impose its superior technical quality. The objective is clear: return to San Sebastian with three points to stay in the Europa League group. The full squad, aside from long-term absentees, is available to the coach for this Nordic trip.
Manager Pellegrino Matarazzo confirmed rotations for the clash at the Åråsen Stadion. "We'll see if it's the usual six or seven or a few less," stated Matarazzo. The manager pointed to changes, with Sergio Gómez returning at left-back and Benat Turrientes in contention in midfield. La Real, fifth in La Liga, need the three points after taking just one from their first two Europa League matches.
Real Sociedad thrashed Lillestrøm 0-6 in Norway. Manager Pellegrino Matarazzo said: "The team showed a fantastic attitude". Sergio Gómez scored a brace and Mikel Oyarzabal provided three assists. The result solidifies the team's good run, now on a two-game winning streak and fifth in La Liga.
