Three academy players step up and assert themselves at Real Sociedad

Three academy graduates—Zubeldia, Gorrotxategi and Turrientes—stepped up to stabilize Real Sociedad after a frustrating draw with Union Saint-Gilloise in European competition.

Real Sociedad drew 1–1 with Union Saint-Gilloise in extra time in a European fixture, but manager Pellegrino Matarazzo identified a silver lining: three academy-trained players delivered standout individual performances. Igor Zubeldia, typically a centre-back, was deployed at right-back due to injuries to Jon Mikel Aramburu and Álvaro Odriozola, and Héctor Fort's lack of match fitness. Zubeldia, alongside Jon Gorrotxategi and Beñat Turrientes, proved themselves indispensable to the team's structure, demonstrating the quality and reliability of the club's youth development.