Real Sociedad II vs Castellón

Real Sociedad II meet Castellón in the opening round of the 2026–27 Segunda División season on 14 August, with neither side having disclosed the venue for this fixture. Both clubs begin a new campaign without established form, making the curtain‑raiser an immediate test of squad depth and early cohesion.

Team News and Injury Latest

No fresh injury concerns have surfaced for Real Sociedad II, though as a B team their line‑up is inherently fluid. Expect manager Sergio Francisco to lean on the academy graduates who have trained with the senior squad during pre‑season, with a focus on positional discipline against a more seasoned opponent.

Castellón, meanwhile, have been active in the market. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the attacking unit has been reinforced by Antonio Gala, Fran Castillo, Álvaro Martín, Iñigo Córdoba and Hamza Bellari. That influx could push Isra Suero and Awer Mabil towards the exit — Mabil has already bid farewell to the club and is set to join Melbourne City. The wide forward’s departure removes a direct threat, but the new arrivals give Dick Schreuder plenty of options in the final third.

Castellón Form and Pedigree

Castellón finished sixth in the 2025–26 Segunda División, comfortably clear of the bottom half and within striking distance of the play‑off places. Their structure under Schreuder, built on organised pressing and quick transitions, delivered consistent results on the road. The teams met in March 2026, with Castellón emerging victorious — a result that reinforces their psychological edge going into the new campaign.

Real Sociedad II Outlook

The reserve side typically operates in the lower reaches of the table, their season shaped by the availability of young talents who shuttle between the B team and Imanol Alguacil’s La Liga squad. Without a dedicated home advantage named for this tie, they will need to reproduce the compact, high‑energy displays that occasionally frustrated more fancied visitors last term. Keeping the ball against Castellón’s experienced midfield will be a stern early examination.

Key Battle: Experience vs Youth

Castellón’s stacked forward line, now featuring Gala and Castillo, will test a Real Sociedad II backline that often relies on teenagers still learning the rhythm of senior football. If the visitors can settle quickly and impose their organisational edge, the home side’s youthful defence could be stretched. The B team’s best chance to stay in the contest is through disciplined shape and exploiting any early-season rustiness in the Castellón ranks.

The Segunda División marathon begins here — and while a single result in August seldom defines a season, for a reserve team it can set the tone for the development path of its brightest prospects. Castellón, eyeing another play‑off push, will view a fast start as non‑negotiable.