Matarazzo’s Challenging Debut at Santiago Bernabéu

omidbasir- Pellegrino Matarazzo will likely not remember his inaugural visit to the Santiago Bernabéu fondly, despite having expressed excitement about the occasion just the day before. The heavy defeat his team, Real Sociedad, suffered marked the end of an impressive streak of results that included nine matches without a loss, comprised of six wins and three draws.

As anticipated after a demanding schedule featuring four matches in just 11 days, Matarazzo made several changes to his starting lineup. He introduced Igor Zubeldia, Aihen Muñoz, Yangel Herrera, and Wesley, replacing Duje Caleta-Car, Sergio Gómez, Beñat Turrientes, and Gonçalo Guedes. Initially, the strategy appeared effective, with the score tied at 1-1 during the first 25 minutes. However, in a matter of six minutes, the situation deteriorated, culminating in a final score of 4-1.

Since his debut on January 4 against Atlético de Madrid, where the match ended in a 1-1 draw that could have easily been a victory, Matarazzo had only experienced positive outcomes. His team subsequently won against Getafe, triumphed in a penalty shootout against Osasuna in the Copa del Rey, defeated Barcelona 2-1, and secured a 3-1 victory over Celta. They also drew 1-1 in a league derby against Athletic Bilbao, advanced to the semifinals of the knockout tournament by beating Deportivo Alavés 3-2, achieved a 3-1 win against Elche, and concluded this successful run with a 1-0 win in the first leg of the semifinals at San Mamés.

In light of the recent setback, Matarazzo has decided to grant his squad two and a half days off. The team will not reconvene at Zubieta until Tuesday afternoon, at which point they will begin preparations for their upcoming match against Real Oviedo. It is crucial that they secure a positive result in this fixture to maintain their ambitions for European competition qualification.