Real Sociedad are back in the Champions League for the first time in a decade and hoping to make the top four again in LaLiga. Real Sociedad’s best lineup is certainly capable of competing with the best on their day and their squad is bolstered by a host of promising graduates from their excellent academy.
With UCL football to contend with, Imanol may need to rotate more actively than he has in recent years and we’ve already seen evidence of that during the 2023/24 season with a number of youngsters getting minutes on the pitch.
Real Sociedad squad 2023/24 season – Academy continues to churn out the talent
Real Sociedad goalkeepers
| Player | Position | Nationality |
| Alex Remiro | GK | Spanish |
| Unai Marrero | GK | Spanish |
Real Sociedad defenders
| Player | Position | Nationality |
| Hamari Traore | RB | Malian |
| Alvaro Odriozola | RB | Spanish |
| Kieran Tierney | LB | Scottish |
| Aihen Muñoz | LB | Spanish |
| Robin Le Normand | CB | Spanish |
| Igor Zubeldia | CB, DM | Spanish |
| Aritz Elustondo | CB, RB | Spanish |
| Jon Pacheco | CB | Spanish |
Real Sociedad midfielders
| Player | Position | Nationality |
| Martin Zubimendi | DM | Spanish |
| Urko Gonzalez de Zarate | DM | Spanish |
| Mikel Merino | CM | Spanish |
| Beñat Turrientes | CM | Spanish |
| Jon Ander Olasagasti | CM | Spanish |
| Brais Mendez | AM, RW | Spanish |
| Arsen Zakharyan | AM, RW, LW | Russian |
| Pablo Marin | AM | Spanish |
Real Sociedad forwards
| Player | Position | Nationality |
| Take Kubo | RW | Japanese |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | LW, CF | Spanish |
| Ander Barrenetxea | LW | Spanish |
| Umar Sadiq | CF | Nigerian |
| Andre Silva | CF | Portuguese |
| Carlos Fernandez | CF | Spanish |
| Mohamed Ali Cho | CF, RW, LW | French |
What is Real Sociedad’s best lineup?
La Real started the 2023/24 season with a number of question-marks as to their best lineup. Imanol experimented with different combinations in attack, unsuccessfully at first, but now appears to have a relatively clear idea as to Real Sociedad’s best starting XI after a strong run of results.
Alex Remiro is their long-term number one while Robin Le Normand and Igor Zubeldia has emerged as the first choice central defensive pairing with the latter ahead of Aritz Elustondo in the battle to partner the Spain international. There is competition for both full-back positions but Hamari Traore and Kieran Tierney are currently ahead of Alvaro Odriozola and Aihen Muñoz.
There is little doubt about Martin Zubimendi or Mikel Merino’s places in the Real Sociedad best XI. Brais Mendez tends to blow a bit more hot and cold but with David Silva’s recent retirement, he’s now the main source of creativity from midfield.
Take Kubo’s fine form at the start of the 2023/24 season has also seen him elevated to the role of key player for this team. There is more competition in terms of the other attacking roles but it has been good to see both Mikel Oyarzabal and Ander Barrenetxea getting back towards their best levels following long-term injury problems. Both feel like they are now in Imanol’s best team.
Real Sociedad fantasy football players – Who are the best scorers?
The Basque side only conceded 0.92 goals per game during LaLiga 2022/23 which was a better defensive record than Real Madrid. That makes both keeper Alex Remiro and key defender Robin Le Normand stand out as good defensive options.
In midfield, while Merino and Zubimendi are both excellent players, Brais Mendez’s ability to contribute goals and assists makes him a more attractive fantasy football option. Meanwhile Take Kubo’s re emergence as one of the brightest young players in LaLiga since his move to Donostia makes him the standout attacking option right now.
Best Real Sociedad Sorare stack – Remiro | Tierney | Brais Mendez | Kubo | Oyarzabal
Despite their impressive 4th place finish last term, Real Sociedad were not an exceptionally high scoring team on Sorare. Alex Remiro, Brais Mendez and Take Kubo are all good picks that are capable of posting big scores.
However you may well find the other two players let you down if you’re thinking of building a full team stack from the Real Sociedad squad.
If Kieran Tierney can get fit and find some form, he may develop into the most attractive defender option. Meanwhile Mikel Oyarzabal’s improvement in recent weeks and months suggest he may be worth taking a punt on over the steadier scores of midfielders Merino and Zubimendi who rarely threaten 80 points (Merino has surpassed 80 twice in the last year and Zubimendi hasn’t bettered 75 in that period).
