Real Sociedad make do out wide amid injury crunch | OneFootball

Real Sociedad have been forced to improvise on the flanks over the past month, leaning on academy options and reshuffles after losing their natural wingers. The January arrival Wesley is not yet ready to be a regular alternative.

According to AS, Take Kubo sustained a hamstring tear on 18 January and has been out for about a month, with Pellegrino Matarazzo indicating a return in early March. Ander Barrenetxea last featured against Celta on 25 January, a heavy blow later required drainage, and he is estimated to be around two weeks away. Arsen Zakharyan has had soleus problems since mid-January that restricted him from playing wide, although he is back with the group and could make the squad to face Oviedo this week.

Those absences, aside from Guedes, removed their three main sources of one-on-one threat for the last four matches. Pablo Marín has started out wide in this run, while Sergio Gómez has also filled in at times.

Even without specialist wingers, the team posted two wins, 3-1 against Elche and 0-1 at Athletic Club, plus a 0-0 draw with Celta and a 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid.

The club now approaches the end of February awaiting returns as recoveries progress. Availability on the flanks is expected to normalise gradually from next month. Until then, their competitiveness rests on versatile second-line players and youngsters stepping up.

Source: AS