Real Sociedad host Lyon in key Europa League clash at Reale Arena

Europa League league phase action

On Thursday, 5 November 2026, Real Sociedad will face Lyon in the UEFA Europa League league phase. Kick-off is set for 17:45 UTC at the Reale Arena in San Sebastian. This fixture could play a significant role in the standings as both sides look to secure their places in the play-off spots.

Standings and stakes

Real Sociedad currently sit 14th in the group with four points from three matches, having recorded one win, one draw and one loss. They have scored eight goals and conceded three, giving them a positive goal difference of five. Lyon occupy 13th place with six points, achieved from two wins and one defeat. They have a less favourable goal difference of minus one, with five goals scored and six conceded. Both teams are positioned in the play-off places, separated by a two-point gap, making this encounter crucial for the race to advance.

Recent form suggests a tight contest

Real Sociedad arrive at this match with decent form, having played five games across all competitions. They have won three, drawn one and lost one, scoring an impressive 15 goals while conceding six. Their recent results include a loss at Athletic Club (1-2) on 1 November, a home win over Levante (2-1) on 25 October, and a commanding 6-0 away victory against Lillestrom on 22 October. Prior to that, they beat Málaga 5-2 away and drew 1-1 at Union St.-Gilloise. This goal-scoring prowess and overall positive results could make them strong contenders on home soil.

Lyon have played five matches recently with a record of three wins and two losses. They have scored seven goals but conceded eight, averaging 1.4 goals scored and 1.6 conceded per game. Their latest outing was a 2-0 home win over Angers on 1 November. Before that, they suffered defeats away at Paris Saint-Germain (0-2) and TSG Hoffenheim (0-3) but had wins over Nice (2-1) and Crystal Palace (3-2) at home. Despite some defensive vulnerabilities, Lyon have shown resilience and the ability to score crucial goals.

Head-to-head and expectations

While specific head-to-head history in this competition is not detailed, both teams come into this fixture with solid attacking records and similar ambitions to progress from the group stage. Real Sociedad's recent high-scoring performances and positive goal difference could give them an edge at home. Lyon's capacity to bounce back from recent losses and their two wins in the Europa League phase so far suggest they will be competitive. With just a two-point difference between the sides in the standings, this match looks set to be closely contested and may hinge on which team can better exploit their opportunities.

Where to watch

Fans in the United States can catch the match live on Paramount+ and CBSSN, ensuring coverage of this important Europa League fixture.

Where the teams stand

Recent form