Real Sociedad hosts Rayo Vallecano at the Anoeta stadium for LaLiga EA Sports matchday 12 on Sunday, November 8, starting at 16:15 local time (UTC+1), as reported by Estadio Deportivo.
Seeking a Bounce Back in San Sebastián
Real Sociedad returns to Anoeta following a 2-1 defeat against Athletic Club in the Basque derby at San Mamés, Estadio Deportivo reported. That loss halted a four-match winning run in league play where Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side had collected victories against Levante, Málaga, Deportivo, and Valencia. Despite the setback in Bilbao, the club sits fifth in the LaLiga EA Sports standings with 19 points, keeping European qualification firmly in view.
The hosts must play this fixture without defender Sarr, who has been a regular starter in the backline, according to MARCA. Jon Martín is expected to step into the central defensive role.
Meanwhile, captain and talisman Mikel Oyarzabal missed training due to tonsillitis and remains a game-time decision for Matarazzo’s starting lineup. If Oyarzabal cannot feature, forward Óskarsson is positioned to lead the attack after showing strong recent form, MARCA noted.
Rayo Vallecano Arrives With Momentum
Rayo Vallecano travels north after securing a 3-0 victory over Celta at the Estadio de Vallecas, which marked their first home win of the season, Estadio Deportivo reported. That emphatic result lifted Beñat San José’s squad to 12 points and twelfth place in the table. The Madrid-based club looks to build on that performance away from home, though they must manage notable absences in the squad.
The visitors will be without Álvaro García and club captain Óscar Valentín, MARCA reported. On the positive side for Rayo, Pathé Ciss returns to the team after serving a suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Coach Beñat San José also retains in-form contributors such as Jorge de Frutos, Florian Lejeune, and Andrei Rațiu, while weighing selection choices on the left flank between Tsitaishvili and Isi, according to MARCA’s squad updates.
Historical Precedents at Anoeta
Historically, Anoeta has proved a demanding venue for the visitors from Vallecas. Across 23 previous league matches played in San Sebastián, Real Sociedad has claimed 13 victories alongside six draws and four Rayo Vallecano wins, as detailed by Unión Rayo.
Recent meetings, however, tell a different story. Rayo Vallecano secured a 1-2 victory early in the 2024-25 campaign with goals from Jorge de Frutos and Sergio Camello, followed by a 0-1 win in October 2025 courtesy of a Pacha Espino strike, according to Unión Rayo’s historical records. The two sides also played out a scoreless draw in January 2024.
Earlier encounters in San Sebastián include a March 2014 thriller where the visitors overcame two deficits through goals from Joaquín Larrivey, Alberto Bueno, and Rubén Rochina to win 2-3, as well as a 0-1 triumph in January 2015 featuring a late strike from Manucho.
Unión Rayo also noted a bitter memory for Rayo from May 2016, when Paco Jémez’s side fought for survival on matchday 37 and fell 2-1 at Anoeta following goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Jon Bautista, despite a reply from Javi Guerra.
Watch the Match on Sunday at Anoeta Stadium
The fixture gets underway at 16:15 local time (UTC+1) on Sunday, November 8, at the Anoeta stadium, Estadio Deportivo confirmed. Television coverage for viewers in Spain is available via Movistar LaLiga and LaLiga TV Bar, with minute-by-minute updates hosted on sports news portals.
Worth a look
