Luka Sucic’s muted debut highlights Real Sociedad’s preseason woes

Luka Sucic made his first summer appearance for Real Sociedad in the friendly against Toulouse, but his performance was subdued and offered little optimism for the Spanish side. The defeat left few positive take‑aways for Real Sociedad, and one of the match’s headline attractions passed virtually unnoticed.

The Croatian midfielder returned to the short‑sleeved kit for the first preseason test after the Mundial with Croacia and only later joined the group’s training dynamics. His re‑entry came after a period of inactivity following the World Cup campaign.

Sucic had already travelled with Real Sociedad on a previous expedition to England, but he remained on the bench because he was not yet at the required rhythm. This time, he finally earned his first summer minutes on French soil.

Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo introduced the player in the 55th minute, part of a massive rotation that saw almost the entire squad refreshed. The substitution was intended to give the midfielder a chance to find his footing.

During his spell on the pitch, Sucic displayed a noticeable lack of competitive rhythm and heavy legs, delivering an overly muted and ineffective display on the green. The midfield dynamo struggled to match the intensity expected at this stage of preparation.

Over more than thirty minutes, he made little impact, remaining isolated in midfield and never finding the passing lanes to link with the forwards. The flat debut confirmed that the international still has physical work to do before reaching optimal form for the upcoming league start.

Despite the tepid start, the club maintains total confidence in his abilities. Officials believe this season should be the year of definitive establishment for the Balkan talent.

After two adaptation campaigns and the physical load of a major international tournament, his quality is beyond doubt. Once he regains his physical tone, Sucic is expected to assume a leading role in midfield, earn regular minutes, and become a decisive offensive element in Matarazzo’s system.

MUNDODEPORTIVO.COM / Otras FuentesJorge SerranoRedacción Actualizado el 01/08/2026 07:25 CEST SociedadMUNDODEPORTIVO.COM