MADRID: The challenging beginning of the season for Real Sociedad has persisted with the announcement that midfielder Hamari Traore is expected to miss the entire season following a severe injury to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
The 32-year-old defender sustained the injury during the Sunday's match against Getafe in La Liga, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
The Real Sociedad official website has confirmed the extent of Traore's injury, stating that he will undergo surgery in the forthcoming days.
The absence of Traore represents a significant setback for the team from San Sebastian, who now have to rely on Alvaro Odriozola, who has a history of injuries and is currently on the sidelines, along with young talent Jon Aranburu, as substitutes.
The match also saw midfielder Brais Mendez have to be substituted off the field, and it is expected that he will be sidelined for an extended period, as coach Imanol Alguacil has confirmed that Mendez has suffered a fracture in his metatarsal bone.
In the previous season, Real Sociedad achieved a sixth-place finish in La Liga, but the summer has been marked by a series of losses for the club, including the departure of Spain internationals Mikel Merino to Arsenal and Robin Le Normand to Atletico Madrid.
Despite these challenges, the team made strategic signings in the last days of the transfer window, acquiring young Icelandic striker Orri Oskarsson from Copenhagen and midfielder Luka Sucic from RB Salzburg.
The season has commenced with defeats at home against Rayo Vallecano and Alaves, followed by a win away against Espanyol and a draw against Getafe.
