Odriozola's Season Over After ACL Tear in Real Sociedad's Comeback Attempt vs Oviedo
Álvaro Odriozola has suffered a ruptured ACL in his left knee, ending his season just moments after coming on as a sub against Oviedo.
Absolutely gutting news from San Sebastián — Álvaro Odriozola has been confirmed as suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ending his season before it had barely got going again.
What Happened
It was one of those moments you dread as a football fan. Real Sociedad were 0-2 down against Oviedo at Anoeta, and manager Pellegrino Matarazzo turned to Odriozola off the bench to help spark a comeback. The 30-year-old barely had time to break a sweat. Within moments of stepping onto the pitch, he planted his left leg awkwardly, crumpled to the turf, and that was that.
The images were hard to watch. Odriozola in visible distress, tears streaming, being helped off by two members of the backroom staff — and, perhaps most heartbreaking of all, glancing up towards the stand where his family were sitting as he made his way down the tunnel.
Medical tests the following day confirmed the worst: a complete ACL rupture in the left knee.
From Transfer List to Key Man — and Back to Square One
This is a particularly cruel blow given the trajectory Odriozola had been on this season:
- After two campaigns ravaged by muscular injuries, he started the current season as a transfer target — surplus to requirements under his previous manager Sergio
- When Matarazzo took charge, everything changed. Odriozola was brought back in from the cold and became a genuine contributor again
- At his best this term, he was showing flashes of the player Real Madrid paid €32 million for back in the summer of 2018
- He’s contracted at Sociedad until 2029, so the club clearly still believe in him long-term
What Now?
ACL recoveries typically take anywhere from eight to twelve months, so realistically Odriozola is looking at a return sometime before the end of 2025 — which would put him in contention for the 2026-27 season. This campaign is done and dusted for him.
For Real Sociedad, it’s a proper headache. Losing a player who’d rediscovered his form and was giving Matarazzo reliable options at right-back is far from ideal, especially with the season still very much in the balance.
Feel for the fella, genuinely. Football can be a right mug’s game sometimes.