Europe Football: Can We Return?

Tie the project using a square and bevel. That is what awaits Real Sociedad in 2026. Third in the League and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Queen’s Cup, the team does not give up anything. After a 2025 full of changes, there is nothing to lose. Who was going to tell Real in August, with a new coach, a new stadium and a practically new squad, that they would start the year with all the doors open?

And yes, now that we have seen the team’s potential, expectations are high, but if something differentiates this new team from the rest of the seasons, it is that it is not afraid to fail. Only Barcelona and Real Madrid, at nine and two points respectively, are ahead of the team led by Arturo Ruiz in the League. Why not dream and set the goal of maintaining that place until the end of the season or even looking at second place.

The Madrid coach already said it in his first interventions before the media: “The priority is to understand the players and put all the pieces together to make a competitive squad.” It seems that it has been accomplished, and now it is time to continue with a firm step and with our feet on the ground, bringing a smile to all the fans of the women’s team, as was done on November 2 against Barcelona in Zubieta. An afternoon in which the blue and white defeated Barcelona after 18 years.

Of course, the Txuri-Urdin coach will have a huge challenge ahead of him with the unexpected departure of Edna Imade. His departure forces the attack to be recomposed, since the team loses its top scorer. The forward will say goodbye on Saturday, January 10 against Atlético de Madrid at home before arriving at Bayern Munich. A match against a direct rival against one of the contenders to occupy the places that grant the positions to play in the Women’s Champions League next season.

Great expectations in the Cup

Furthermore, Zubieta likes the Queen’s Cup and going as far as possible in the competition should be the second objective of the year. The Txuri-Urdin squad has reached two finals in the last six years, emerging as champions in the 18/19 season, in the memorable final won against Atlético de Madrid in Granada. In this new edition, Arturo Ruiz’s team are already in the quarterfinals, after defeating Dépor in Riazor with a great performance (1-4).

With all fronts still open, this ‘new’ Real will have to use the square and the bevel to continue with a firm step and to the smallest detail, standing up to its rivals without taking false steps. Occupying one of the three places that give access to competing in Europe next season and going as far as possible in the Cup are more than feasible objectives for this Real.

Eibar cannot fail

Eibar, for its part, must improve its performance in 2026. Eliminated in the Cup and in a delicate position in the League, Iñaki Goikoetxe’s men cannot fail. They began the season with serious doubts, since in the first six league games they only achieved one victory. Winning in Ipurua is becoming quite an odyssey. To date, they have only achieved one victory at home, on November 1 against Dépor. Looking ahead to the new year, everything involves becoming stronger at home.

After falling out of the Cup in the round of 16 against Madrid CFF (3-2), the Eibar team will be able to focus all its forces on climbing positions in the regular competition table, since the team led by coach Debarra occupies eleventh place. Of course, they are eight points behind Dux Logroño, which together with Levante is the team that occupies the two relegation places.

The gunsmiths will have to become strong in front of their fans if they want to have a peaceful 2026. Without any other open front, Eibar will also return to the competition on the 10th against Alhama.