Zubeldia se pierde el partido de la Real Sociedad por el isquio

Igor Zubeldia left training this morning with a right hamstring strain and will not be part of the Real Sociedad squad. The centre-back had to stop early during the session at Zubieta.

It is the second significant absence in defence. Jon Martín is already out through suspension, so Zubeldia's withdrawal leaves the staff short two centre-backs.

Mamadou Sarr, Luken Beitia and Jon Pacheco are the candidates to form the central pairing, with Aramburu also an option if repositioned. Whichever two are picked, it will be a partnership untested this season. Sarr did not last 60 minutes against Elche on Monday, hampered by cramp, and Pacheco has played only 20 minutes in the league so far, his last extended run coming on 31 July against Toulouse, when he was on for 55 minutes. Beitia, a summer signing at Real Sociedad who has yet to score for the club, is the most match-sharp of the three: 90 minutes at the Bernabéu and another 90 last Saturday for the Sanse against Tenerife.

Pablo Marín, who has scored three goals for the club since joining in October 2022, has been training with the first team but was not called up despite the gap in defence. Two players have come in unexpectedly instead: Gorka Carrera and Aitor Fraga, both named as starters for the Sanse's match in Andorra at 14:00, who now face a rushed trip back after being included among the 24 selected.