Oyarzabal eyes Bernabéu as Real Sociedad mull start amid fitness build-up | OneFootball

According to AS, Real Sociedad visit the Santiago Bernabéu to face Real Madrid with the spotlight on captain Mikel Oyarzabal, who is still building fitness and whose role is under consideration.

He returned to training at Zubieta on 10 August after extra rest following the 2026 World Cup. The forward became a world champion with Spain alongside Marc Cucurella, now a Real Madrid player who will receive a pre-match tribute at the stadium.

The pair have an excellent relationship and meet for the first time since lifting the trophy, this time as rivals. Against Betis in Sevilla last Friday, Pellegrino Matarazzo gave Oyarzabal 37 second-half minutes, judging he still needs match sharpness.

That cameo was enough for the captain to lift Real Sociedad's attack, so the staff are weighing a start in Madrid or a repeat introduction after the break. The Gipuzkoan fans' tribute to Oyarzabal is scheduled for Saturday at Anoeta against Espanyol, the first home game of the season.

The Bernabéu date follows his best scoring return last season, 18 goals, including two against Real Madrid. Across his career he has scored five times against the Madrid side in all competitions.

Source: AS

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