Real Sociedad play Alavés this Saturday in Anoeta with the Copa del Rey final against Atlético only one week away, and a section of the club would rather not gamble with the main starters. The decision has become the central issue inside the squad: protect legs now, or keep the team sharp for the first final the club will play with supporters in 38 years.
The case for caution is obvious. Gorrotxategi played in Villarreal without being at 100 percent and is now a doubt, while Hancko left the Champions League match on Tuesday on crutches. At the same time, the load on the regulars has been heavy all season: Oyarzabal has started 26 of 27 league matches, Guedes 22 of 30, Soler 19 of 25, Sergio Gómez 24 of 29 and Aramburu 26 of 28. Those numbers explain why the discussion around real sociedad - alavés is not about one game alone.
The match also comes with useful options. Aihen, Marín, Zakharyan, Óskarsson and Kubo are available, and Real Sociedad can use five substitutions, which gives the coach room to manage minutes without dismantling the side. Matarazzo rarely rotates heavily before major matches, though, and before the Copa semifinal against Athletic he used his best players for more than 80 minutes. That history suggests he may lean toward continuity even with the final looming.
The club has been here before, and not always with good fortune. Merino once played with a fracture in the L4 vertebra against Athletic, Monreal said goodbye in Sevilla on April 3, and Illarra had a setback on the eve of the final five years ago. There has also been limited recent disruption among the key names: the only setback for Oyarzabal this year came with the national team, and Guedes has not had any setbacks this year.
For now, the probable defensive picture points toward Caleta-Car missing the Alavés match, with Aritz set to play in central defense. Turrientes would be used with Soler deeper in midfield, a sign that Real Sociedad can adjust without tearing up the structure entirely. That flexibility matters because the weekend game is not being treated like a standalone fixture. It is the last test before a final that has already pulled about 35,000 supporters into motion.
Beating Alavés would do more than preserve momentum. It would boost confidence and could move Real Sociedad closer to fifth and sixth place, which gives the club another reason not to drift into the final flat. The balancing act is plain enough: one eye on Saturday, the other on Atlético, and a squad trying to reach the biggest day in 38 years without losing its edge along the way.
