Real Sociedad go into this afternoon’s match against Espanyol with zero points from their first two league games, and Matarazzo has made the point that the team must be ready to compete after seven weeks of work. That is the reality hanging over the fixture now: another poor result would deepen an already awkward start.
The coach said as much in blunt terms, noting that if the side were not prepared after seven weeks together, it would be a cause for concern. The search for this game has sharpened because Real Sociedad cannot afford to let the opening slump become a habit, and Espanyol arrives with transition play one of its strengths.
Mamadou Sarr is part of that backdrop. He trained with his new teammates on Wednesday, was included in the squad and is expected to begin on the bench, with a debut possible if the match opens up. The same uncertainty hangs over Matarazzo’s selection more broadly: it has not been ruled out that he uses all of his available players, even though AFE’s 72-hour rule means there had not been the mandatory gap between matches.
If he does lean toward experience and continuity, Remiro is expected to start after two good performances, while Zubeldia could return to the lineup to partner Jon Martín. Aramburu is still without a replacement, Sergio was excellent at the Bernabéu, and Oyarzabal and Óskarsson could start together for the first time this season. Yangel Herrera, meanwhile, has already put together two good matches and has been one of the best midfielders.
The wider picture is not flattering. Real Sociedad lost already at La Cartuja and at the Bernabéu, did not win until matchday 6 last season when it beat Mallorca, and had only two points after three matchdays before later dismissing Sergio Francisco in December. The club had also closed the details for Héctor Fort’s arrival before this afternoon’s game, a sign that the squad is still being shaped even as results demand immediate answers.
So the immediate question is less about style than survival. Real Sociedad need their first points, and they need them now, because a team that has started this badly can only keep the season from tilting further if it turns preparation into a result against Espanyol.
