The worst start since relegation

Real Sociedad’s return to LaLiga action has not gone as planned. With only two points from their opening five matches, the Basque club find themselves enduring their worst start to a top-flight season since their promotion back in 2010.

Even more striking is that this tally marks the third-poorest opening to a campaign in the 21st century, surpassed only by the single point collected in 2001-02 and in the disastrous 2006-07 season, which ultimately ended in relegation to the Segunda División.

Sergio Francisco, who took over the reins this summer after the long tenure of Imanol Alguacil, is already facing questions about the team’s ability to rediscover form. However, history provides some encouragement. Just last year, Real Sociedad looked in similar disarray in the early weeks of the competition. They stumbled to just five points from their first 21, sparking fears of a season of mediocrity. Yet Alguacil’s men staged a dramatic turnaround, collecting 19 points from the next 27 available and thrusting themselves firmly into the fight for European qualification. That remarkable swing serves as a reminder that even the most worrying starts can be salvaged with belief, tactical adjustments, and collective effort.

Last season’s early slump included a frustrating run: a solitary win away at Espanyol, home defeats against Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo Alavés, a draw with Getafe, and a loss to Real Madrid. Further setbacks followed a narrow 1-0 win in Mallorca and a goalless draw at Valladolid leaving the team on just five points from their first seven fixtures. And yet, Alguacil’s side responded with six wins in nine matches, proving that form in the autumn months need not dictate the entire trajectory of a season. That lesson will be on Sergio Francisco’s mind as his squad prepares for another crucial meeting with Mallorca this Wednesday. Victory in San Sebastián would allow them to at least match last year’s tally after seven games before the daunting trip to face Barcelona.

The contrast with recent seasons under Alguacil is stark. Real Sociedad had made consistently stronger starts, with early returns of six, seven, eight, and even ten points from their opening five fixtures, setting the tone for stable campaigns. Since returning to the Primera División in 2010, their slowest starts had still generally seen four to seven points on the board by this stage. The meagre two-point tally in 2025 is therefore both alarming and unusual, raising questions about what has changed.

Part of the answer lies in transition. Sergio Francisco has inherited a squad that has been reshaped, with several young players stepping into bigger roles and injuries hampering the availability of experienced figures. While the team still possesses quality, particularly in midfield creativity and wide play, they have struggled to convert chances into points. The lack of cutting edge in front of goal and vulnerability in defence have both been exposed, leaving the club searching for solutions before the gap to mid-table grows too wide.

History also serves as a warning. The 2006-07 relegation campaign was undermined by a similarly poor start. That year, La Real took just one point from their opening five matches and did not register a first victory until matchday 14. While the current situation is not yet as desperate, it highlights the importance of preventing negativity and panic from spreading in the dressing room and among the fan base. By contrast, earlier “false starts” such as the two points in 2004-05 or the single point in 2001-02 were later overcome, though not without tension and anxiety along the way.

The challenge now for Sergio Francisco is to harness the potential of his squad while waiting for injured players to return. Key absentees have disrupted rhythm and consistency, but with reinforcements expected back in the coming weeks, there is hope of renewed energy. Greater contributions will also be demanded from established players who have yet to hit their stride this season, as well as from younger talents looking to cement their place in the first team.

Supporters, while frustrated, have reason to maintain cautious optimism. The Basque club has a strong tradition of resilience and an academy that consistently produces talent capable of stepping up in difficult moments. The memory of last year’s turnaround is still fresh, offering a blueprint for how momentum can change dramatically with just a couple of positive results.

At the same time, the broader objective remains clear. Real Sociedad aspire not only to stabilise their league position but also to compete once again for European football, a goal that seemed within reach for long stretches last season. Achieving that will require a collective step forward, both tactically and mentally. Francisco must instill belief that the poor start does not define the campaign, and that with unity and determination, the team can climb back up the standings.

For now, the numbers paint a grim picture, but football history and Real Sociedad’s own past show that early struggles need not determine destiny. The focus will now turn to the clash with Mallorca, where three points could spark the beginning of another revival story.