# 2020–21 Real Sociedad season

The 2020–21 season was the 111th season in the existence of Real Sociedad and the club's 11th consecutive season in the top flight of Spanish football. In addition to the domestic league, Real Sociedad participated in this season's editions of the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa de España, and also participated in the UEFA Europa League. The season covered the period from 20 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, with the late start to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.
This season was the first since 2007–08 without fellow centre-back David Zurutuza who announced his retirement from football after the previous campaign had concluded.

## Players
### First-team squad

    As of 24 January 2021
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Álex Remiro |
| 2 | DF | ESP | Joseba Zaldúa |
| 4 | MF | ESP | Asier Illarramendi (Captain) |
| 5 | MF | ESP | Igor Zubeldia |
| 6 | DF | ESP | Aritz Elustondo (3rd captain) |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Portu |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Mikel Merino |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Carlos Fernández |
| 10 | FW | ESP | Mikel Oyarzabal (vice-captain) |
| 11 | MF | BEL | Adnan Januzaj |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Aihen Muñoz |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Miguel Ángel Moyá |
| 14 | MF | ESP | Jon Guridi |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | DF | FRA | Modibo Sagnan |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Ander Guevara |
| 17 | MF | ESP | Martín Merquelanz |
| 18 | DF | ESP | Andoni Gorosabel |
| 19 | FW | SWE | Alexander Isak |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Nacho Monreal |
| 21 | MF | ESP | David Silva |
| 22 | FW | ESP | Ander Barrenetxea |
| 23 | MF | ESP | Luca Sangalli |
| 24 | DF | FRA | Robin Le Normand |
| 25 | FW | ESP | Jon Bautista |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Roberto López |
| 36 | MF | ESP | Martín Zubimendi |

### Reserve team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 26 | DF | ESP | Jon Pacheco |
| 29 | MF | ESP | Robert Navarro |
| 32 | DF | FRA | Jérémy Blasco |
| 33 | DF | ESP | Aritz Arambarri |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 34 | GK | ESP | Gaizka Ayesa |
| 35 | FW | ESP | Julen Lobete |
| 37 | DF | ESP | Urko González de Zárate |
| — | DF | ESP | Álex Sola |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | ESP | Andoni Zubiaurre (at Cultural Leonesa until 30 June 2021) |
| — | DF | POR | Kévin Rodrigues (at Eibar until 30 June 2021) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | FRA | Naïs Djouahra (at Mirandés until 30 June 2021) |
| — | FW | BRA | Willian José (at Wolverhampton Wanderers until 30 June 2021) |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Player | From | Type | Fee |
| 30 June 2020 | Jon Bautista | Eupen | Loan return | Loan return |
| 30 June 2020 | Gerónimo Rulli | Montpellier | Loan return | Loan return |
| 20 July 2020 | Kévin Rodrigues | Leganés | Loan return | Loan return |
| 21 July 2020 | Jon Guridi | Mirandés | Loan return | Loan return |
| 21 July 2020 | Martín Merquelanz | Albacete | Loan return | Loan return |
| 21 July 2020 | Modibo Sagnan | Mirandés | Loan return | Loan return |
| 17 August 2020 | David Silva | Manchester City | Transfer | Free |
| 24 January 2021 | Carlos Fernández | Sevilla | Transfer | €10M |

### Out

| Date | Player | To | Type | Fee |
| 20 July 2020 | Martin Ødegaard | Real Madrid | Loan return | Loan return |
| 20 July 2020 | David Zurutuza | Retired | Retired | Retired |
| 4 August 2020 | Raúl Navas | Osasuna | Buyout clause | €250K |
| 4 September 2020 | Gerónimo Rulli | Villarreal | Transfer | €5M |
| 12 September 2020 | Kévin Rodrigues | Eibar | Loan | Loan |
| 24 September 2020 | Diego Llorente | Leeds United | Transfer | €20M |
| 30 September 2020 | Naïs Djouahra | Mirandés | Loan | Loan |
| 1 October 2020 | Andoni Zubiaurre | Cultural Leonesa | Loan | Loan |
| 23 January 2021 | Willian José | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Loan | Loan |

## Pre-season and friendlies

Win  Draw  Loss

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| La Liga | 13 September 2020 | 22 May 2021 | Matchday 1 | 5th | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 044.74 |
| Copa del Rey | 20 January 2021 | 26 January 2021 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 050.00 |
| Supercopa de España | 13 January 2021 | 13 January 2021 | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 000.00 |
| UEFA Europa League | 22 October 2020 | 25 February 2021 | Group stage | Round of 32 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 025.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 49 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 68 | 50 | +18 | 040.82 |
Source: Soccerway

### La Liga
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 3 | Barcelona | 38 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 85 | 38 | +47 | 79 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 4 | Sevilla | 38 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 77 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 5 | Real Sociedad | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 62 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage |
| 6 | Real Betis | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 61 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage |
| 7 | Villarreal | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 60 | 44 | +16 | 58 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
* ↑ Since the winners of the 2020–21 Copa del Rey, Barcelona, qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League based on league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners (Europa League group stage) was passed to the sixth-placed team, and the spot awarded to the sixth-placed team (2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round) was passed to the seventh-placed team, Villarreal.
* ↑ Villarreal qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League by winning the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League. Based on their league position (7th), they would have received the spot above to enter the Europa Conference League play-off round. This spot was vacated without replacement as per UEFA regulations.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: La Liga

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | D | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | D | D | L | L | W | D | L | L | D | D | W | W | W | D | W | L | L | D | D | W | W | L | L | W | L | W | W |
| Position | 5 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |

#### Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 31 August 2020.

### Supercopa de España

The draw was held on 17 December 2020.

### UEFA Europa League
#### Group stage

The group stage draw was held on 2 October 2020.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | NAP | RSO | AZ | RJK |
| 1 | Napoli | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 11 | Advance to knockout phase | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| 2 | Real Sociedad | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 9 | Advance to knockout phase | 0–1 | — | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| 3 | AZ | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 8 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | 4–1 |
| 4 | Rijeka | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 | −6 | 4 | | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | — |

#### Knockout phase
##### Round of 32

The draw for the round of 32 was held on 14 December 2020.

## Statistics
### Squad statistics

    Last updated on 22 May 2021. Does not include the 2020 Copa del Rey Final, delayed until April 2021 and counted in the 2020–21 season in some resources – these stats are recorded under the 2019–20 Real Sociedad season article.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | La Liga | La Liga | Copa del Rey | Copa del Rey | Supercopa de España | Supercopa de España | UEFA Europa League | UEFA Europa League |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ESP | Álex Remiro | 48 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Miguel Ángel Moyá | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | ESP | Joseba Zaldúa | 18 | 0 | 6+6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ESP | Aritz Elustondo | 28 | 1 | 22+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Aihen Muñoz | 19 | 0 | 14+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | FRA | Modibo Sagnan | 21 | 0 | 7+9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | ESP | Andoni Gorosabel | 40 | 0 | 28+4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Nacho Monreal | 35 | 2 | 23+3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 24 | DF | FRA | Robin Le Normand | 43 | 0 | 30+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | ESP | Jon Pacheco | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | ESP | Aritz Arambarri | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | ESP | Asier Illarramendi | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | ESP | Igor Zubeldia | 31 | 1 | 21+3 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Portu | 47 | 9 | 24+13 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5+3 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Mikel Merino | 36 | 2 | 25+1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | BEL | Adnan Januzaj | 36 | 4 | 12+15 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ESP | Jon Guridi | 22 | 0 | 8+9 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Ander Guevara | 38 | 1 | 25+6 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ESP | Martín Merquelanz | 17 | 0 | 4+9 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ESP | David Silva | 26 | 2 | 17+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ESP | Luca Sangalli | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Roberto López | 20 | 3 | 4+13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ESP | Robert Navarro | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | ESP | Martín Zubimendi | 41 | 0 | 17+14 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | ESP | Urko González | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | ESP | Carlos Fernández | 12 | 1 | 4+7 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ESP | Mikel Oyarzabal | 43 | 13 | 30+3 | 11 | 1+1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | SWE | Alexander Isak | 44 | 17 | 30+4 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ESP | Ander Barrenetxea | 40 | 3 | 13+18 | 3 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+6 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | ESP | Jon Bautista | 27 | 2 | 0+21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+5 | 2 |
| Players who have made an appearance this season but have left the club ||||||||||||||
| 3 | DF | ESP | Diego Llorente | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | BRA | Willian José | 21 | 6 | 8+5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+5 | 1 |
| 30 | GK | ESP | Andoni Zubiaurre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goalscorers

    As of 30 January 2021
| Rank | No. | Pos | Nat | Name | La Liga | Copa del Rey | Supercopa de España | Europa League | Total |
| 1 | 13 | MF | | Mikel Oyarzabal | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | 7 | MF | | Portu | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 9 | FW | | Willian José | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 14 | FW | | Alexander Isak | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | 11 | MF | | Adnan Januzaj | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | 28 | MF | | Roberto López | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | 25 | FW | | Jon Bautista | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | 20 | DF | | Nacho Monreal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | 22 | FW | | Ander Barrenetxea | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 8 | MF | | Mikel Merino | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 21 | MF | | David Silva | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Own goal | Own goal | Own goal | Own goal | Own goal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 32 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 41 |