Real Sociedad is preparing for the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 against the Turkish champion Fenerbahce, with the match scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Zubieta stadium. After beating Hearts in the previous round and registering a victory over Barcelona in the league, Gorka Alvarez's team is looking to consolidate its form and secure a comfortable lead ahead of the return leg in Istanbul.
The Basque team enters the competition with a streak of seven points in the last nine games, including a convincing 3-0 victory over Hearts and a 1-1 draw against Espanyol at home. Despite the absence of figures such as Aiara and Paula Fernández, the squad has the presence of key players such as Cecilia Marcos and Ainhoa Marín, who are in top form. Coach Álvarez will have to decide between keeping the Catalan forward, introducing Nerea as a false nine or continuing with Seelenfreund, whose performance has been irregular. The inclusion of young people from B, Isasisasmendi and Aranburu, who will debut in the first team, is also contemplated.
For its part, Fenerbahce reaches the round of 16 after beating the weak Haymanaspor 5-0 in the Turkish league, although it currently occupies third place behind Besiktas and Galatasaray. The Turkish club eliminated Minsk in the previous round, winning both matches, and also fell in the group stage of the Champions League after losing the mini-tournament final against Belgian side Leuven on penalties. Since their last loss against Galatasaray in April, the team has maintained a 14-game unbeaten streak, with 12 wins in that period. Their style of play is characterized by a fast counterattack, with players like Abideen and Otu physically dominating the midfield, and the presence of goal scorers like Turkoglu, Uraz, Staskova, Alves and Ngah.
The Italian referee Martina Molinaro will be in charge of directing the match, which promises to be a clash of styles between Basque defensive solidity and Turkish offensive speed. Real Sociedad, considered favorites, will have to take advantage of their home advantage and avoid any surprise that Fenerbahce may present in the return leg in Istanbul. With the aim of ensuring a safe exit, the Basque team is looking for a result that will allow it to face the second match without pressure and with the possibility of advancing to the next phase of the European competition.