Guedes unlikely for Real Sociedad opener as comeback looks delayed | OneFootball

Gonçalo Guedes remains absent and is unlikely to make his Real Sociedad debut in Friday’s opener against Betis at La Cartuja. Diario Vasco reports he is still training alone 12 days after a personal operation, with only three sessions left before the 21:00 kick-off, and he is also tight for Wednesday 26 away to Real Madrid.

Guedes skipped Sunday’s session. Jon Gorrotxategi continues his recovery plan to be available but is not expected to start, having missed all seven friendlies with the pubic issue that troubled him last season.

Pellegrino Matarazzo lacks a natural holding midfielder of Gorrotxategi’s profile, a defensively minded organiser with tactical awareness and a powerful shot from range. Lebarbier offers similar traits but with less elite experience and has featured heavily in pre-season, scoring once.

La Real have four days and three sessions before the campaign begins, returning to La Cartuja where they lifted the Copa del Rey in 2021 and 2026. Training will be behind closed doors on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11:00, with Monday off after the London trip and Sunday’s recovery in Zubieta.

This week will define the chances of Guedes, Pacheco and Gorrotxategi featuring in the opener and whether Oyarzabal can start. Matarazzo’s first news conference of the season is scheduled for Thursday at 14:00. Interest is heightened after Nayef Aguerd’s social media statement that his proposed move, agreed with Olympique de Marseille, fell through after a conversation with the coach about immediate performance, while the centre-back preferred to follow his recovery protocol.

Source: Diario Vasco

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