Real Sociedad, the best of the rest in La Liga

San Sebastián—Less than three months ago Real Sociedad looked condemned to a relegation scrap; today they sit proudly as the division’s form side outside the traditional giants, a surge that has turned their season on its head and placed two pieces of silverware within reach.

The txuri-urdin began 2026 in disarray under Sergio Francisco, collecting points at a rate that had supporters fearing a first survival battle in years. Since the coaching change that brought Matarazzo to the dugout, however, the Basques have amassed 18 points from the last 27 available, rocketing from 16th to 8th and trimming the gap to the European places to a mere five.

Saturday’s hard-fought 0-1 win at Mallorca, decided by a second-half strike against the run of play, underlined the new-found defensive resolve that has become Matarazzo’s trademark. The victory also preserved momentum ahead of Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final return against Athletic Club, where Real defend a 1-0 aggregate lead earned at a raucous San Mamés.

Should Sociedad protect that advantage they will book a date in the Seville final, capping a potential fairy-tale spring that already includes a league revival and an outside charge toward continental qualification. For Matarazzo, the possibility of making club history on multiple fronts is no longer fantasy but a realistic target built match by match since the turn of the year.

With ten league fixtures remaining and a cup final berth at stake, the Anoeta faithful now sense that the darkest nights of autumn have given way to a season still ripe with reward.