Real Sociedad 0–1 Pau FC
International Club Friendly – July 11, 2026

Match Overview

Real Sociedad’s pre‑season preparations hit an early setback as they fell 1‑0 to French Ligue 2 side Pau FC in a tightly contested friendly at the Zubieta training ground. The match, played behind closed doors, saw the San Sebastián side struggle to break down a compact Pau defence despite dominating possession.

Key Moment

The only goal of the game arrived in the 67th minute. Pau’s attacking midfielder, Antoine Larrieu, latched onto a quick counter‑attack down the right flank, cut inside, and fired a low shot past Real Sociedad’s reserve goalkeeper Aitor Fraga. The goal came against the run of play but underlined the clinical edge that Pau showed throughout the afternoon.

Tactical Story

Real Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil fielded a mix of first‑team regulars and youngsters, with Mikel Oyarzabal playing the first hour. The home side created several half‑chances – a deflected shot from Brais Méndez and a header from Alexander Sørloth that went just wide – but lacked the final pass against a well‑organized Pau backline. The French side, playing their third friendly of the pre‑season, maintained their shape and frustrated the La Liga outfit.

Standout Players

• Mikel Oyarzabal – The Real Sociedad captain looked sharp on the ball and linked play well, but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
• Antoine Larrieu – Scored the decisive goal and posed a constant threat on the break.
• Pau goalkeeper Léo Bouchard – Made two important saves in the second half to preserve the clean sheet.

Season Impact

For Real Sociedad, this friendly serves as a useful fitness exercise ahead of their La Liga opener later in August. Pau FC, meanwhile, will take confidence from a disciplined performance as they prepare for the 2026‑27 Ligue 2 campaign.