Football is weird. Honestly, if you’d told a fan at the start of the 2024-25 season that a Third Division side like Ponferradina would give the mighty Real Sociedad a genuine heart attack in the Copa del Rey, they’d probably have laughed you out of the bar. But that’s the magic of the cup, right?
The Ponferradina vs Real Sociedad matchup on January 5, 2025, wasn't just another game on the calendar. It was a cold Sunday in Ponferrada where 8,000 people crammed into Estadio El Toralin, hoping to see a giant fall. They almost got their wish. For over 50 minutes, the score stayed 0-0. Ponferradina didn't just park the bus; they drove it, steered it, and occasionally used it to clip the heels of La Liga stars like Takefusa Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal.
What actually happened on the pitch?
Look, the 0-2 final scoreline makes it seem like a comfortable day for the Basques. It wasn't. Real Sociedad, under heavy pressure to perform after a shaky run in La Liga, looked leggy. Ponferradina’s manager at the time—the club was in the middle of a gritty Primera Federación campaign—set up a defensive block that was basically a brick wall.
Andrés Prieto, Ponferradina’s keeper, was having the game of his life. He was tipping shots over the bar and commanding his area like a man possessed. Then, the 54th minute happened.
Mikel Oyarzabal, the captain who always seems to find a way, finally broke the deadlock. It was a bit of a sucker punch for the home fans. Even after that, Ponferradina didn't fold. They pushed. They had a few corners that made the Sociedad defense look genuinely panicked. But when Brais Méndez slotted home the second in the 71st minute, the air just sort of left the stadium.
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The Real Sociedad struggles of 2025-26
Fast forward a bit to the current 2025-26 season, and things have changed drastically for both sides. Real Sociedad has been through the ringer. They actually sacked Sergio Francisco in December 2025 after a truly dreadful run of form that saw them slide down the table.
Enter Pellegrino Matarazzo.
The new boss took over just before Christmas 2025, and he's been trying to steady a ship that felt like it was sinking. They’ve picked up some decent results lately—a gritty win over Getafe in early January 2026—but the flair that defined them a few years ago is still missing. They’re sitting 11th in La Liga as of mid-January 2026. Not exactly where the fans expected to be.
Ponferradina's battle for promotion
Meanwhile, Ponferradina is fighting a completely different war. After the cup exit in 2025, they focused entirely on the league. By late 2025, they brought in Mehdi Nafti to lead the charge back toward the Segunda División.
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They’ve been "kinda" inconsistent, if we're being blunt. One week they're beating Ourense 2-0 with goals from Xemi Fernández, and the next they're losing a heartbreaker to Arenteiro. But as of January 2026, they are right in the thick of the promotion hunt.
- Current Key Players for Ponfe: Borja Valle is still the talisman, providing that veteran edge.
- Defensive Rock: David Andújar, at 34, is still out-jumping kids ten years younger than him.
- The Engine: Fede San Emeterio has been vital in keeping the midfield from collapsing.
Ponferradina vs Real Sociedad: The "Other" Rivalry
We can't talk about this without mentioning the "B" team factor. Because Ponferradina spends so much time in the Primera Federación (the old Segunda B), they actually play Real Sociedad B (Sanse) way more often than the senior team.
In May 2025, just a few months after the big cup game, Ponferradina traveled to face the Sociedad reserves. It was a five-goal thriller. Real Sociedad B won 3-2, with Eder Garcia scoring a late winner in the 82nd minute. It’s funny how the styles trickled down—the B team played with that same high-press intensity that the senior squad uses to annoy Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Why this matchup matters for bettors and fans
If you're looking at the historical stats for Ponferradina vs Real Sociedad, the gap is closing. Gone are the days when a top-flight team could just show up with their B-squad and win by four goals. Modern Spanish football is too tactical for that.
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The expected goals (xG) in that January 2025 cup game was 1.16 for Ponfe and 1.64 for Sociedad. That is tight. It shows that the "lower" teams are getting better at neutralizing the talent gap through physical fitness and rigid defensive shapes.
What to watch for in 2026
As we move through the 2025-26 season, keep an eye on how these two clubs evolve. Real Sociedad is trying to rediscover its identity under Matarazzo. They’ve brought in players like Carlos Soler and Yangel Herrera to beef up the midfield, but the chemistry isn't quite there yet.
Ponferradina, on the other hand, is a club built on grit. Their stadium, El Toralin, remains one of the toughest places to play in northern Spain. Whether it's a cup draw against the first team or a league battle against the reserves, you know what you're going to get: a lot of fouls, a lot of passion, and a game that’s never over until the final whistle.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following these teams, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Track the Matarazzo Effect: Watch Real Sociedad’s defensive line. Matarazzo likes a more structured approach than Francisco, which might mean fewer goals conceded but also fewer chances created for Oyarzabal.
- Monitor Ponfe’s Home Form: They are a different beast at El Toralin. If they are playing at home, the odds usually favor a low-scoring, defensive affair.
- Keep an Eye on the Cup Draws: The next round of the Copa del Rey could easily see these two cross paths again. If they do, don't automatically assume a Sociedad blowout.
- Scout the Youth: Real Sociedad B is a factory for the first team. Players like Mikel Goti and Jon Gorrotxategi are the next big things. If you see them performing well against Ponferradina in the lower leagues, they’ll be in La Liga within six months.