Pre-season steps up as Rino shapes a more recognisable Real Sociedad | OneFootball

Pre-season is stepping up and Rino Matarazzo now has a side closer to his opening day vision, with internationals filtering back. A double date with Colonia in Germany awaits this weekend. According to Diario Vasco, Real have made no signings yet and discussions with Wolverhampton over 27-year-old Ladislav Krejci are ongoing but not close.

Luka Sucic has had his first minutes against Toulouse. Gonçalo Guedes and Take Kubo could also reappear before the final summer run-out against Chelsea.

Guedes did not play a single minute at the World Cup. Kubo returned with a sprain in his left knee that will dictate his schedule, though the club believe he can be eased back in. The next major target is Saturday 15 against a Chelsea side coached by Xabi Alonso.

The squad is now much closer to the one planned for the league start. Senior figures are back together on the pitch in the new strip. The only big absentee is Mikel Oyarzabal, on holiday after becoming world champion, due back at Zubieta on Monday and he might get minutes against Chelsea.

With two weeks until 2026/27, today is a rest day before three consecutive sessions. The week is shaped by two meetings with Colonia in Germany on Friday and Saturday. It is another chance for Matarazzo to sharpen patterns and settle his starting group.

Pre-season to date reads two wins, one draw and one defeat. Youngsters Álex Lebarbier, Ibai Aguirre, Gorka Carrera, Álex Marchal and Luken Beitia have taken their chances and could split the year between the first team and Sanse. Kazunari Kita and Tommy Carbonell are back working under Jon Ansotegi.

Source: Diario Vasco