Copa del Rey glory masks Real Sociedad’s uneven league season | OneFootball

Copa del Rey glory masked Real Sociedad’s uneven league campaign, the club finishing 10th on 46 points, Europa League secured through the Cup.

As reported by AS, Imanol Alguacil’s six-year spell ended last summer and Sergio Francisco was promoted, but 16 league matches brought 16 points from four wins, four draws and eight defeats. He was dismissed in December and Pellegrino Matarazzo took over.

Matarazzo sparked a surge, taking 25 points from 14 league games before the Cup final, seven wins, four draws and three defeats that banished relegation fears and revived European hopes. Gonçalo Guedes and Carlos Soler led, Orri Óskarsson found fitness and goals, and Beñat Turrientes rose from fringe to fulcrum.

The pinnacle arrived on 18 April at La Cartuja, a 2-2 against Atlético de Madrid settled on penalties with Unai Marrero and Pablo Marín prominent. About 30,000 travelled to Sevilla for the final and mass celebrations later filled Alderdi Eder.

After the Cup, league form fell away, eight games without a win, and a brittle defence left 61 conceded across the campaign despite 59 scored. The club considers its goals achieved thanks to Europe and the historic Cup, given the low ebb when Matarazzo arrived.

Aritz Elustondo leaves after more than a decade, with two Cups and six European qualifications as his deal ends on 30 June. Possible departures include Zakharyan, Brais Méndez, Karrikaburu, Goti and Caleta-Car, while uncertainty remains over Take Kubo, Remiro and Aihen Muñoz. Mikel Oyarzabal led with 18 across league and Cup.

Source: AS