Real society They look set for another European final this season, and after making the knockout stages of the Champions League, it must be considered quite a successful campaign. After finishing in the top four last year, and struggling again in the second half of the season, there is some frustration in Donostia-San Sebastian.
No less at the end of the pitch. Ever since Alexander Isak left for Newcastle United for €70m, La Real have struggled for consistent number nine play. The Swede was streaky himself, and Alexander Sorloth had a decent campaign last year, but all three of his natural strikers struggled this time around.
Umar Sadiq he was ruled out for almost all of last season after arriving, while Carlos Fernandez was also hampered by injuries on a consistent basis. Loan signing Andre Silva has been far from successful amid fitness issues.
On their current trio of strikers, La Real have spent 30 million euros, and in the space of seven seasons at Anoeta, they have 12 goals between them. The only saving grace was captain Mikel Oyarzabalwho often played in the middle but suffered his own anterior cruciate ligament problem in 2022.
This season, Oyarzabal's production has returned to similar levels to previous seasons, after scoring just four times last year. He is currently on 14 goals with 6 games to go, his second season together. Their next best scorers this season are Mikel Merino, Brais Mendez and Takefusa Kubo, all with seven, which are all good contributions, but it does not ease the feeling that the Txuri-Urdin could reach for more with a new clinical forward.
It is still unclear whether La Real will stick with Sadiq, or look to address the position this summer. However, it seems that the only position they have struggled is Isak, despite playing some of the best football in Spain in recent seasons.
