Real Sociedad go to Lillestrom still looking for a first Europa League win, with one point from two matches and a trip that has picked up a local subplot around H. Ødegaard and his team. They lost to Bournemouth and drew with Union Saint-Gilloise in their opening two European games.

The club account summed up the mood before the trip with: "From Donostia to Norway. We are ready." It is a neat line, but the football problem is more practical. Real Sociedad sit on 1 point in the league phase and are 22nd in the table, so this is already a night they need to get something from.

The Norway trip and the Ødegaard subplot

Hans Erik Ødegaard took over Lillestrom in December 2024 and has 44 wins in his first 62 matches. That gives the fixture a bit more weight than a standard group-night away trip, even before the away end comes into it. The club expects about 430 Real Sociedad supporters at Åråsen, after only 244 requested tickets in the first deadline.

Real Sociedad's domestic form has been better, with a run of WWWLW in the league, but Europe has not followed that pattern yet. The gap between those two versions of the team is the point of the night in Norway.

Getafe's different European test

Getafe are at home to FC Lugano with a different tone around their tie. José Bordalás said Lugano are "a team with European experience and good players", and he also framed the night as a chance to push on in the competition: "You get there very few times, it is exciting for our fans and we have to try to go as far as possible."

Getafe also have 1 point after drawing on the pitch of Universitatea Craiova, so their start is steady rather than decisive. Their league position, 15th in La Liga, helps explain why Bordalás is careful about the balance between Europe and domestic work.

Real Sociedad's trip feels more urgent because they have not banked a win yet. Getafe's night feels more measured, but both Spanish sides arrive with Europe still open and no margin for drifting much longer.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →