Guedes builds fitness as La Real look for the Portuguese to rediscover spark | OneFootball

Real Sociedad lost 4-1 at the Bernabéu after a promising hour, and focus now shifts to easing key attackers back to fitness.

Diario Vasco reports that Mikel Oyarzabal made his first start after little pre-season work, playing 55 minutes pre-agreed with Matarazzo and medical staff. He asked for five more, but the change was compulsory to protect his health, and La Real faded after he went off.

Gonçalo Guedes, recently operated on for a personal matter, logged his first minutes of the campaign. He teed up Óskarsson and forced Courtois to a corner with a left-footed strike, yet he looked short of starting fitness.

La Real held a recovery session after their overnight return, with starters indoors and the rest outside. Guedes trained fully and now needs competitive minutes. Under Matarazzo, returns are staged, around 15 minutes, then half an hour, before a start of 60.

Attention turns to Espanyol at Anoeta tomorrow. Gorrotxategi, now over the pubalgia that sidelined him all summer, is the only pure number four in the American coach’s plans. He could make a first squad or wait until Thursday against Celta.

Two first team players omitted for technical reasons trained. Mikel Goti does not plan to leave despite limited trust from Matarazzo, while Jon Karrikaburu has been out of the plans since early pre-season. Burgos are best placed, but a contractual solution is still needed with under a week left.

Source: Diario Vasco

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”