Real Sociedad give players two and a half days off before Basque derby

Real Sociedad can devote a full week to preparing for the Basque derby against Athletic, next Sunday at 21:00 at San Mamés. Pellegrino Matarazzo has given his squad two and a half days off following a demanding run of matches and travel. The players will not train today or tomorrow before returning to the pitch to prepare for the fixture.

The break comes after the meeting with Levante, although not everyone went straight off duty. The substitutes completed a demanding session at Anoeta after the match had ended. It took place late in the evening, in the rain and in front of empty stands. This was not merely a few routine runs, but an intense workout for those who had not featured or had played less.

The contrast with Athletic’s immediate schedule is clear: they have to focus on their midweek Copa match before the derby. Real Sociedad, by comparison, have this spell without a fixture in which to recover and prepare for the trip to San Mamés. The rest does not mean the team is putting its work aside; it provides a recovery window before training resumes.

The recent workload helps explain the decision. Real Sociedad played on Thursday, and many of the players who featured against Levante had also taken part in that match. The victory after that short turnaround was therefore described as meritorious. The time off is intended to let the squad recover from the sequence of games and travel before turning its attention fully to the derby.

Workload management also continued after the final whistle against Levante, with the substitutes staying on for extra work at Anoeta. Matarazzo has now set aside a defined rest period for the squad, followed by a week without a match before the visit to Athletic. The next objective is clear: return to training with energy and prepare for Sunday evening’s Basque derby.