Gorrotxategi returns as Real Sociedad starter after four months

Jon Gorrotxategi has returned to the starting line-up with Real Sociedad after four months without starting. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Eibar-born midfielder hadn’t started since May 14 against Girona, an absence caused by the physical issue that hit him in the final stretch of last season: pubalgia developed between March and April.

From pubalgia to the XI

The report says he pushed through to reach the Copa del Rey final, but his body failed at the decisive stage. He then missed Real Sociedad’s game at Valencia (3-4) and the final league match in Cornellà, as the severity of the injury demanded an absolute stop.

Mundo Deportivo adds that, with a conservative treatment approach, he began a step-by-step recovery that allowed him to rejoin the group on August 12. From there, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo managed his minutes carefully to prevent setbacks: he came back in stoppage time vs Espanyol and played minutes against Celta (29'), Elche (20'), Atlético de Madrid (12') and Bournemouth (32').

Big numbers in Mestalla

After gradually rebuilding fitness, his chance to start arrived a quarter of a year later—129 days later, as the paper notes—in Mestalla against Valencia. There, he played 69 minutes before being replaced by Yangel Herrera, showing a two-speed performance: impressive and dominant in the first half, then affected by the expected physical drop-off.

The key takeaway was his statistical impact. Mundo Deportivo reports a 92% pass accuracy (35/38), split between 18/19 (95%) at home territory and 17/19 (89%) in the rival half. He also had just two inaccurate touches and five dispossessions out of 52 interventions. Without the ball, he was equally effective: 4/4 tackles won, four interceptions, 5 ground duels won out of 7, and 2 aerial duels won out of 3. The article frames it as a sign that he’s fully recovered for Matarazzo’s rotation.