RCD Espanyol will face Real Sociedad on Saturday 29 August at Anoeta. The match kicks off at 19:00 and both teams aim to consolidate their positions after their first game of the season.
Match Preparation
The fixture is the third of the LaLiga season and takes place immediately after Espanyol beat Levante 3-0, with goals from Roberto Fernández (5’ and 40’) and Tyrhys Dolan (80’). In contrast, Real Sociedad lost its first match 0-1 to Real Betis, with a goal from Rodrigo Riquelme in the 63rd minute. Both teams have a match against Real Madrid before Anoeta: Espanyol at home on 22 August and Real Sociedad away on 26 August.
Team Situations
For the game, Real Sociedad fields its usual lineup: Álex Remiro in goal, Jon Aramburu, Igor Zubeldia, Jon Martín and Sergio Gómez in defense; Yangel Herrera and Carlos Soler in midfield; Takefusa Kubo, Luka Sučić and Ander Barrenetxea in attack, with Orri Óskarsson as a winger. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal, who entered in the 58th minute against Betis, is still in a recovery phase after his injury. In the squad, Álvaro Odriozola remains unavailable due to a knee injury, Jon Gorrotxategi has returned to training after a pubic injury, and Gonçalo Guedes is recovering from a hip injury.
Espanyol, under Manolo González, keeps its 4-2-3-1. Roberto Fernández is the key player the Real Sociedad defense must locate, while Tyrhys Dolan provides speed from the second line. Edu Expósito and Carlos Soler are crucial for controlling the game's tempo. The team also suffered the absence of Kike García, who underwent surgery on his right biceps femoris tendon in August, and of Javi Puado.
Key Tactics
Real Sociedad aims to create spaces between defense and midfield, exploiting the mobility of Oyarzabal, Kubo and Sučić. Mikel Matarazzo’s zonal pressing, refined during the summer, seeks to prevent Espanyol from stretching too wide. Conversely, Espanyol intends to stay compact, close central corridors, and exploit spaces behind the full-backs. Roberto Fernández’s presence and Dolan’s speed will be decisive if Espanyol opens the game.
Atmosphere at Anoeta
Anoeta, with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, has been Real Sociedad’s home since 1993. The stadium is located at Paseo de Anoeta 1 in the Amara area of San Sebastián. First-time visitors should plan their travel with enough time to arrive before kickoff.
The match promises a clash of styles: Real Sociedad, which has not lost in the last five LaLiga meetings against Espanyol, seeks to regain momentum after the defeat to Betis; Espanyol, with the advantage of winning its first match, aims to maintain pressure and solidify its table position.
