Real Sociedad begin Europa League push as Bournemouth visit Anoeta | OneFootball

Real Sociedad open their Europa League campaign on Thursday, hosting Bournemouth at Anoeta at 21:00 in matchday one. They aim to finally clear the last-16 barrier.

According to AS, their last season in Europe brought progress past the round of 32 against Midtjylland, but most recent runs have ended in the last 16. Opponents such as Salzburg, Manchester United, Leipzig, Roma and PSG have halted them at that stage, and the last time they went beyond it was in 1998, when they eliminated Dinamo Moscow in the UEFA Cup.

To secure a direct ticket to the last 16, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side must navigate a demanding group. After Bournemouth, they visit Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium on 15 October at 18:45, then travel to Norway to face Lillestrøm on 22 October at 21:00. Olympique de Lyon come to Anoeta on 5 November at 18:45.

The run-in to year’s end tightens. Real Sociedad play Crystal Palace in London on 26 November at 21:00, then finish 2026 at Anoeta against Torreense on 10 December at 21:00.

January closes the phase, with Viktoria Plzeň visiting on 21 January at 18:45 and a trip to Juventus in Turin on 28 January at 21:00.

Source: AS

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