Bad News for Spain: Barrenetxea Suffers Injury Ahead of Nations League
Ander Barrenetxea suffered a muscle injury during Real Sociedad's victory over Rayo Vallecano, putting his availability for the Spanish national team's upcoming international fixtures in doubt.
Real Sociedad's victory over Rayo Vallecano brought worrying news for both the Basque club and the Spanish national team.
Ander Barrenetxea went from being one of the key figures in the 1-0 win at Anoeta to leaving the pitch in tears after experiencing muscle discomfort in the back of his right thigh.
The winger had played a decisive role just minutes earlier. In the 67th minute, he led a quick attacking transition and delivered a perfectly timed pass to Orri Óskarsson, who finished inside the penalty area to score the only goal of the match.
However, the celebrations were short-lived.
In the 70th minute, Barrenetxea felt pain while running without any pressure from an opponent and immediately grabbed the affected area. The medical staff attended to him, and Job Ochieng replaced him in the 71st minute.
The sight of the visibly emotional winger leaving the field raised serious concerns in San Sebastián.
Matarazzo Awaits Medical Tests to Determine Injury Severity
After the match, Pellegrino Matarazzo acknowledged his concern about the attacker's physical condition but refused to make any definitive assessment.
The Real Sociedad manager confirmed that an MRI scan would be necessary to determine the extent of the injury and establish how long the player could be sidelined.
Although there are concerns about a possible muscle tear, the club has yet to officially confirm the exact nature of the injury.
The situation represents a significant setback for a player who has been enjoying a strong run of form and had once again made a decisive contribution to his team's success.
The victory also lifted Real Sociedad to 22 points, strengthening their position in fifth place in LaLiga. Losing one of their attacking players could complicate the Basque side's upcoming fixtures.
His Place in Spain's Nations League Squad Is in Jeopardy
The injury comes at a particularly unfortunate moment for Barrenetxea.
Last Friday, Luis de la Fuente included the Real Sociedad winger in Spain's 27-man squad for the final two group-stage matches of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League.
The Spanish national team will visit the Czech Republic on Thursday, November 12, in Prague before hosting England on Sunday, November 15, in Madrid.
Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time in their respective host cities.
Barrenetxea was expected to report to the national team's training camp in Las Rozas on Monday, but his participation now depends on the results of his medical examinations.
The winger had also suffered a physical setback ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making this latest injury especially frustrating as he looks to establish himself in Luis de la Fuente's plans.
For now, Real Sociedad can celebrate three important points, although the club remains anxiously awaiting news about one of its most dangerous attacking players.
Key Takeaways From Barrenetxea's Injury
- Ander Barrenetxea assisted Orri Óskarsson in Real Sociedad's 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano but was forced off injured in the 71st minute.
- Pellegrino Matarazzo confirmed that the winger requires medical examinations to determine the severity of his muscle injury.
- The player had been called up by Spain to face the Czech Republic and England in the UEFA Nations League, but his availability is now in doubt.
