Nerea Eizagirre y Cecilia Marcos, survivors of Real Sociedad’s Champions League debut | OneFootball

Four years on from facing Bayern Munich, Real Sociedad return to Champions qualifying with a remodelled squad, and only Nerea Eizagirre and Cecilia Marcos remain from their European bow.

According to Diario Vasco, their first outing came in September 2022 after finishing second in the 2021/22 Liga.

The tie opened on 20 September at Anoeta before more than 11,000 fans. Bayern won 0-1 through Lea Schüller, and Eizagirre twice hit the bar. Marcos was an unused substitute.

A week later in Munich, Linda Dallmann scored on 18 and 22 minutes, Schüller added a third before the interval, and Jensen pulled one back on 45 for 3-1 on the night and 4-1 overall. Marcos came on in the 73rd minute for Bernabé.

League form dipped after 2021/22, with eighth in 2022/23 and 2023/24, then seventh in 2024/25. Last season they finished third, earning another shot at Europe. In the Copa de la Reina they lifted the trophy in 2019, were runners-up three years ago and reached several quarter-finals.

Arturo Ruiz now leads the team, following Natalia Arroyo and a brief 2024/25 spell under Sánchez Vera.

On the pitch, goalkeeper Elene Lete, a long-time constant and starter against Bayern, has joined London City, leaving Julia Arrula and Alazne Estensoro to compete for the shirt. In defence, Nahia Aparicio has grown into a reference since 2023/24 and Aiara Agirrezabala has made left-back her own, while Vanegas and Izarne Sarasola have moved on.

Eizagirre remains the midfield fulcrum and is now captain, alongside Klára Cahynová, Ainoha Campo and Maren Lezeta. Up front, Franssi, Jensen and Amaiur have gone, and Marcos now has a far bigger role with Ainhoa Marín, Arola Aparicio, Ava Seelenfreund, Sonya Keefe and Intza Eguiguren.

The objective is unchanged, reach the group stage and travel Europe.

Source: Diario Vasco

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