Matarazzo Sets Sights on Upcoming Match Against Oviedo

omidbasir- Pellegrino Matarazzo places significant importance on tomorrow’s encounter against Oviedo, where his Real Sociedad must demonstrate resilience after experiencing their first defeat under his leadership. He aims to extend their positive trajectory in 2026 and acknowledges the challenge posed by Oviedo, urging both players and fans to be fully committed.

Matarazzo addressed the current injury situation: “‘Barrene’ is not yet fit; he began training with us yesterday but only partially. Today he trained more, yet he is still not at 100%. He is in a process of reintegration, and we hope he will be fully fit next week for the following match. Soler, after becoming a father, trained individually yesterday and with the team today, so he is a viable option. Zakharyan is back in training. Luka is expected to begin partial training on Sunday, potentially making him available for the Mallorca match. Take and Rupérez also require additional time to recover.”

This is the first week Matarazzo has trained his players after a defeat. When asked if the approach has changed, he responded, “Not really, as we always focus on performing well and achieving our objectives. We are aware of what we did right against Madrid and what we did wrong. We have conducted an analysis and worked hard, so we are ready for tomorrow’s match.”

When questioned if he has a preferred starting eleven, Matarazzo stated, “No, I do not have a favorite eleven. There might be a preferred lineup for each match based on our different options in midfield, especially with Yangel’s return, which is a positive development. While some positions may not be settled, every player has an important role to play.”

He was also reminded that fans seem more focused on the Cup than LaLiga. “For me, what is said outside is not important. What matters is our internal discussions. We are focused on tomorrow’s match, which is crucial. There are many factors for which we must perform well.”

Real Sociedad transitions from facing the league leaders, Real Madrid, to battling against the bottom-placed team. “We are playing at home this time, which brings a different energy from our fans. This is a match we are expected to win, and we must approach it with the intent to achieve a positive result. The momentum we have built over the past weeks is something we want to continue, making this a very important match.”

Matarazzo expressed caution regarding Oviedo, saying, “They are competitive and pose significant challenges to their opponents, as seen against Athletic the other day before conceding their two goals. If you analyze their statistics, their long balls for direct play, combined with Viñas’ ability to hold the ball and their speed on the flanks, indicate quality in one-on-one situations. They are tenacious, sometimes pressing high and at other times sinking back, so we must be effective.”

Despite their recent away loss, the objective remains to maintain their home record at Anoeta. “Yes, we must continue our momentum. We lost to Real Madrid, but now is the time to react post-defeat and secure three points at home to remain on the positive wave we are riding.”

When asked if this match is a good opportunity to achieve a clean sheet, Matarazzo affirmed, “It is always one of our goals not to concede goals. We want to defend well in every match, but we also understand our strengths in attack. Had we been more solid defensively against Madrid, we would have had better opportunities. Thus, it is crucial to be strong defensively to transition effectively into attack; everything is interconnected.”

What kind of performance can be expected from Real Sociedad? “Our objective is always to be dominant and press high. While we want to attack, we must also be ready to defend collectively when necessary.”

Matarazzo will experience his first match at 14:00, having played most games in Spain at 21:00. “I greatly appreciate the siesta culture; I feel invigorated after one. However, I also enjoy playing in daylight and prefer shorter days, so I take the match timings as they come.”

Lastly, when asked about the referees from the derbies at San Mamés and the Bernabéu being sidelined, he stated, “I don’t have much to say about that. Why were they penalized? If it was for poor performance, then there’s not much else to comment on. It’s essential to find a balance with referees; I started aggressively and received several yellow cards, so I’m trying to temper my approach because I want to be present in every match. Not all decisions have been correct; there have been many errors.”