Zubeldia injury leaves Real Sociedad defence stretched before Copa del Rey final | OneFootball

Igor Zubeldia suffered a left hamstring issue on Friday against Villarreal at Estadio de la Cerámica, leaving Real Sociedad anxious. The Azkoitia-born centre-back hobbled off, and his availability for the Copa del Rey final on 18 April at La Cartuja in Sevilla against Atlético de Madrid is in doubt.

The club said in a statement that tests confirmed an injury to the left biceps femoris after he felt discomfort during the Villarreal v Real Sociedad match. He has begun physiotherapy, and his return will be gradual and dependent on the injury’s characteristics and evolution.

If he does not make it, he would join Álvaro Odriozola, already ruled out, and probably Yangel Herrera among the absentees for the showpiece. In central defence, Pellegrino Matarazzo would be left with only Duje Caleta-Car, Jon Martín and Aritz Elustondo in the coming weeks.

The picture is complicated because the Beasain-born defender has barely figured in the current manager’s plans. That limits rotation at a time when resources are thinning.

Given the shortages, the head coach may need to turn to Kita or Beitia from the reserve side to fill the bench. A back line that has already struggled this season can ill afford further losses going into the final and the run-in.

Source: AS