Real Sociedad vs Racing de Santander: Canales Returns as Matarazzo Tests Squad at Zubieta
Real Sociedad vs Racing de Santander friendly at Zubieta sees Canales return and several loanees feature as Matarazzo fine-tunes squad ahead of LaLiga.
Real Sociedad face Racing de Santander in a preseason friendly at the Zubieta training ground, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 CEST as the side builds toward the new LaLiga campaign. The match, billed as the club’s second summer friendly after a closed-door game against Pau FC last week, will see the return of Sergio Canales and the first appearances this preseason for several recent arrivals and returning loanees.
Canales makes his first appearance back in San Sebastián
Sergio Canales was one of the principal talking points ahead of the friendly, marking his return to San Sebastián after five seasons away from the club. His presence at Zubieta carries both symbolic and practical weight, offering the coaching staff a seasoned midfielder to assess in live action before competitive fixtures begin. Canales’s return also adds a technical, experienced option to Pellegrino Matarazzo’s midfield rotation as the coach evaluates combinations and tactical balance.
The manner in which Canales is introduced into the match — minutes, position and responsibilities — will be closely watched by supporters and analysts. His familiarity with the club and knowledge of the Basque football environment could accelerate integration where younger players are still finding their footing. The friendly therefore serves a dual purpose for Canales: regaining match sharpness and helping to set the tone for the midfield ahead of LaLiga.
New inclusions and returning loanees get minutes
Several players who did not feature in the closed-door game versus Pau FC were available at Zubieta, including Jon Mikel Aramburu, Yangel Herrera, Orri Óskarsson, Kazunari Kita and Jon Pacheco. For many of them, this match represents their first competitive minutes of the preseason under Matarazzo. The coaching staff will use the fixture to monitor fitness levels, positional understanding and how quickly new or returning faces adapt to the manager’s tactical directives.
Jon Pacheco returns to the Real Sociedad first team after a season on loan at Deportivo Alavés, offering defensive options and familiarity with the club’s structure. Javi López and Mikel Goti, who spent last season out on loan at Oviedo and Córdoba respectively, are likewise part of the group and are expected to feature as Matarazzo balances playing time across the squad. Those reintroductions form an important element of summer planning as the club seeks to blend experience with youth.
Sanse prospects to be evaluated under match conditions
A customary focus of preseason fixtures is the assessment of young players from Sanse, Real Sociedad’s B team, and this friendly is no different. Matarazzo has called several promising youngsters to first-team sessions, and the coaching staff will be looking for readiness to step up into senior football when competitive pressures increase. These matches allow coaches to test temperament, work rate and tactical comprehension in an environment where development is prioritized over results.
While conclusions are necessarily provisional given the early stage of preparation, the presence of young players in matchday squads provides clarity on individual pathways. Minutes at Zubieta will inform decisions on who remains with the first team, who might benefit from another loan, and who will form part of Matarazzo’s immediate rotation. The balance between protecting promising talent and exposing them to higher levels of competition is a recurring theme during these preparatory weeks.
International call-ups and absentees shape selection
Real Sociedad will be without a group of internationals who remain away on national duty, among them Sucic, Takefusa Kubo, Gonçalo Guedes and Mikel Oyarzabal. Their absences reduce the pool of experienced attacking options available to Matarazzo for this fixture, prompting opportunities for other squad members to stake a claim. The coach has indicated a phased return plan for internationals, which will reshape selection choices as the preseason progresses.
Injuries continue to affect available personnel, with Álvaro Odriozola, Iñigo Gorrotxategi and Balda sidelined, and Pablo Marín also added to the injured list after the Pau friendly. Those fitness concerns mean that the manager may opt to use two different starting elevens across the two halves, preserving players while widening the assessment base. Managing workload and avoiding setbacks ahead of the league opener is a clear priority at this stage.
Tactical focus and minutes management in friendly fixtures
With roughly a month remaining before the LaLiga curtain-raiser, the emphasis at Zubieta is on accumulating minutes and refining tactical patterns rather than chasing a result. Matarazzo is expected to rotate his side across the ninety minutes, giving meaningful playing time to both established squad members and those seeking to impress. This approach allows the coaching staff to test multiple formations, pressing schemes and personnel combinations in a controlled setting.
Preseason friendlies also offer a chance to rehearse set-piece routines and transitional phases that can be difficult to replicate in training alone. For defensive reinforcements and new midfield pairings, the match provides an environment to build cohesion under match pressure. Equally, forwards and attacking midfielders can develop understanding and timing ahead of more demanding competitive fixtures.
Outlook for the final weeks of preseason and LaLiga preparations
The next weeks will see returning internationals rejoin the squad and the coaching staff consolidate roles ahead of the competitive season. Matarazzo’s immediate task is to integrate returning loanees and new additions while carefully managing fitness of those recovering from injury. Preseason scheduling, including further friendlies and training blocks, will determine how the squad is trimmed and which players head into the campaign with the first team.
Fans and stakeholders will watch how minutes are distributed in matches like this one as a barometer for selection in the opening rounds of LaLiga. The club’s transfer activity, ongoing medical updates and the reintegration of internationals will all influence the final squad picture. For now, the friendly at Zubieta represents a practical rehearsal and a chance for individuals to press their case for the season ahead.
Real Sociedad’s match against Racing de Santander at Zubieta is a clear stepping stone in preseason, blending the return of familiar faces with opportunities for younger prospects and recent arrivals. The friendly will offer coaches and supporters an early glimpse of the tactical shape Matarazzo intends to take into the new LaLiga campaign.
