San Sebastián’s Anoeta welcomed league football back after the international pause with Real Sociedad hosting newly promoted Deportivo de La Coruña in the eighth round of LaLiga EA Sports. Three minutes into the afternoon match, there was little to separate the sides, with possession shared and neither team yet able to impose a rhythm.
Real Sociedad did produce the first glimpse of danger on the break, but Gonçalo Guedes’ delivery was cleared by Deportivo’s defence. The visitors have returned to Anoeta for the first time in eight and a half years, arriving with an encouraging away record: alongside Barcelona, Sevilla and Celta, Deportivo were among the only four top-flight teams still unbeaten on the road this season.
Anoeta test for two strong starters
The 41,000-capacity stadium stages a meeting between two clubs who have made positive starts to the campaign. Real Sociedad are seeking to move into the top six by strengthening their home form, while Deportivo hope their travelling resilience can continue in the Basque Country.
Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side returned from the break without Jon Aramburu, Álvaro Odriozola and Orri Óskarsson. Deportivo coach Antonio Hidalgo is missing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marc Casadó and Denis Zakaria through injury, with Aubameyang facing a meniscus operation.
Hidalgo had warned that Matarazzo’s Real Sociedad can present opponents with several different problems. The home coach, meanwhile, said his squad had used the lengthy pause well, first resting and then playing Athletic Club in a test match, with the international players returning fit. Asked about Carrera, Matarazzo described him as a player with very evident strengths and said he remains an available option.
Teams at kickoff
Miguel Sesma is the referee in San Sebastián, with Juan Luis Pulido Santana overseeing VAR duties.
| Real Sociedad | Deportivo |
|---|---|
| Remiro; Marín, Jon Martín, Sarr, Sergio Gómez; Barrene, Herrera, Soler, Zakharyan; Sucic, Guedes | Leo Román; Navarro, Ede, Giménez, Quagliata; Mella, Villares, Soriano, Luismi Cruz; Yeremay, Nsongo |
Real Sociedad’s substitutes are Marrero, Aihen, Gorrotxa, Zubeldia, Turrientes, Oyarzabal, Ochieng, Take, Pacheco, Fort, Carrera and Beitia. Deportivo have Ferllo, Alti, Noubi, Riki, Loureiro, Amatucci, Angeliño, Jensen, Adama, Martín, Kevin and Noé in reserve.
With the first exchanges even and the home side already looking to release Guedes in transition, Anoeta waits to see whether Real Sociedad can turn territorial familiarity into a result, or whether Deportivo can preserve their unbeaten record away from Galicia.
