Barrenetxea Back in Training But Race Against Clock for Oviedo Clash
Ander Barrenetxea returned to training at Zubieta on Thursday after nearly a month out, but Matarazzo faces a big call on whether to risk him vs Oviedo.
Nearly a month after picking up yet another muscle problem, Ander Barrenetxea is back on the grass — but whether he’ll be in the squad for Saturday’s home game against Real Oviedo is still very much up in the air.
The comeback kid (maybe)
Barrenetxea trained with the rest of the Real Sociedad squad at Zubieta on Thursday, which is genuinely a relief given how stop-start his season has been. The winger was forced off at half-time during the Celta match on 25 January after taking a knock to the same thigh that had already kept him out for three weeks following the Basque derby back in November. Same spot, same story — the lad’s been having a proper nightmare with it.
So he’s back out there, which is the good news. The question Pellegrino Matarazzo now has to answer is whether two training sessions — Thursday’s and Friday’s — is enough to justify chucking him straight into the squad. It’s a tight call, and the manager will have to weigh up whether the risk of another setback is worth it for a home game against Oviedo.
- Barrenetxea has been out for close to a month
- He returned to full training on Thursday at Zubieta
- Saturday’s squad list will be announced around 1:30pm on Friday
- Matarazzo has two sessions to assess him before making his decision
Sucic still a doubt — and it’s not looking great
If Barrenetxea’s return is the bright spot, then Luka Sucic is the other side of the coin. The Croatian midfielder was actually expected back before Barrenetxea based on what Matarazzo said last week, but he was absent from Thursday’s session again and looks set to miss the Oviedo game too.
That’ll be three matches on the spin without him — he’s already sat out the Copa del Rey tie against Athletic Club and the La Liga defeat to Real Madrid. Not ideal timing for a side that could really do with some creativity in midfield.
What to watch for
Friday’s squad announcement is the one to keep an eye on. If Barrenetxea makes the list, it’s a boost — even if he only gets twenty minutes off the bench, having him available again changes things. If Matarazzo plays it safe and leaves him out, you can’t really argue with the logic given how many times this injury has flared up.
Either way, Real Sociedad need the points on Saturday. A home game against Oviedo is exactly the sort of fixture you want when you’re trying to get momentum going — and having your best attacking players fit would obviously help that cause considerably.