Brais Méndez back for Real Sociedad as Barrenetxea and Sucic remain sidelined for Oviedo clash
Real Sociedad welcome Oviedo to Anoeta with Brais Méndez returning from suspension, but Barrenetxea and Sucic still missing as Txuri-urdin chase European spots.
Real Sociedad are back at Anoeta looking to get their European push back on track, and there’s a couple of welcome faces back in the squad — though not everyone Imanol’s successor will have been hoping for.
Brais and Zakharyan back in the mix
The headline news is that Brais Méndez is available again after serving his suspension — the red card he picked up in the San Mamés derby that most people agreed was well harsh. Alongside him, Atsen Zakharyan has shaken off his latest muscular issue and is back in contention too. Two proper options returning to Matarazzo’s squad at a time when every point genuinely matters.
The ones still waiting
The less good news? Luka Sucic and Ander Barrenetxea are still not ready. Both are reportedly in the final stretch of their respective recoveries, but the club clearly don’t want to take any risks with either of them just yet. Frustrating, but sensible enough given where they are in the season.
- Sucic – still out, recovery ongoing
- Barrenetxea – same story, not quite there yet
- Carlos Soler – in the squad, having just become a dad (congrats to him), though whether he starts is another matter
Likely starters and the rotation question
Matarazzo is expected to lean on his regulars here, with the likes of Caleta-Car, Sergio Gómez, Turrientes and Guedes all set to come back into the starting XI after they were rested or didn’t kick off from the start last Saturday at the Bernabéu. The accumulated fatigue from that trip to Madrid was clearly a factor, so expect a fresher-looking side on the pitch.
Soler’s involvement is the main question mark — he’s in the squad after becoming a father, but whether Matarazzo throws him straight into the eleven is unclear.
The full squad
Goalkeepers: Remiro, Marrero, Fraga
Outfield: Aramburu, Aihen, Gorrotxategi, Zubeldia, Aritz, Turrientes, Óskarsson, Oyarzabal, Guedes, Yangel, Marín, Caleta-Car, Sergio Gómez, Soler, Karrikaburu, Odriozola, Zakharyan, Wesley, Brais Méndez, Jon Martín, Ochieng
Why this one matters
Let’s be straight about it — Real Sociedad need the three points. The race for European football is tight and dropping points at home to a side like Oviedo would be a proper banana skin moment. Anoeta should give them the platform, the squad depth is decent enough tonight, and with Brais back pulling the strings, there’s genuine reason for optimism.
Get the win, stay in the European conversation. Simple as that.