Buy Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo tickets for the 2026/27 La Liga season. Kickoff is 19:00 local time on Thursday 3 September 2026 at the Estadio de Anoeta in San Sebastián, in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa. This is jornada 6, brought forward from its original mid-September date because both clubs are in the Europa League league phase and that week is reserved for European football.
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The ground holds a little under 40,000 and is currently being enlarged towards 42,247. Real Sociedad ran at 78 per cent occupancy across last season, with midweek evening fixtures drawing crowds in the low twenty-thousands. For a Thursday night against opponents from the far side of northern Spain, a seat at the Anoeta is more obtainable than the club's membership numbers alone would suggest.
What follows is a buyer's guide to this specific match: what each stand costs, why this stadium changed more than almost any other in Spain, how the club's seat-release scheme actually gets tickets into public hands, what twenty-seven previous La Liga meetings here produced. There is also live construction to account for, which is covered below.
On paper this is a difficult ticket. Real Sociedad have upwards of 37,000 members, a season-ticket waiting list reported at more than 5,500 people, plus the overwhelming majority of the ground committed to holders before general sale opens. Membership is allocated from the waiting list rather than sold openly.
The lived reality on a midweek night is different. The club recorded 78.1 per cent occupancy across 2025/26, ranking fifteenth of twenty in the division. One midweek evening fixture last season drew only around 22,400 into a ground holding close to 40,000. Committed seats and occupied seats are not the same thing, which is the single most useful fact on this page.
The bridge between the two is the club's cesión scheme. Members who cannot attend release their seat back to the club, which returns it to general sale. On a Thursday evening in early September, with schools returned and a 19:00 start, the volume of released seats is higher than it would be for a Saturday night against Barcelona.
Celta Vigo will not fill the gap. Vigo to San Sebastián is roughly 700 kilometres across the entire northern edge of Spain, with no fast direct rail link, while a Thursday evening kickoff effectively requires two days away from work. Expect a modest travelling contingent comfortably inside whatever allocation is set.
Both clubs arrive from strong seasons, which lifts interest without transforming demand. Celta finished sixth in 2025/26 on 54 points to qualify for the Europa League. Real Sociedad took 46 points in the league then won the Copa del Rey in April 2026, beating Atlético Madrid on penalties after a 2-2 draw, which is how they enter Europe this season.
Yes, though the route runs through released seats rather than a standing general allocation. Real Sociedad sell single-match tickets through their own platform. The volume available depends almost entirely on how many members have handed their seat back for that particular night.
That changes the timing advice completely. At most clubs the counsel is to buy early before supply dries up. Here, supply builds rather than shrinks as the match approaches, because members decide late whether a Thursday night is workable. Checking repeatedly through the week of the game is more productive than assuming an early sell-out is final.
Becoming a member is not a route into this fixture. New places come off a waiting list several thousand names long rather than from open sale. The club's intermediate supporter tier grants a couple of stadium entries plus priority to upgrade rather than a guaranteed seat. That is a plan for a future season.
Celta supporters are on a separate track. Spanish league rules leave the size of the visiting sector to the home club rather than mandating a percentage, with away tickets ordered and distributed by the visiting club rather than sold by the hosts. A Celta fan buys through Celta.
One rule applies to everyone. Spanish league regulations require ticket sales to be nominative, with the buyer's name and identity document recorded, then identity checked at the stadium entrance. Settle whose name will be on the ticket before you pay, then carry a matching photo identity document.
Five things set the price. Stand matters most, from the Tribuna Principal down to the two ends. Timing matters in an unusual direction here, because released seats surface late rather than early.
Opponent matters a great deal at this club, since Real Sociedad price by fixture and a Thursday visit from Celta sits well below a weekend derby. Competition context matters, because European nights at this ground price differently. Hospitality tier sets the ceiling.
| Ticket Type | Resale Price Range | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fondo Norte or Fondo Sur, upper | £30 – £60 | Buyers who want the lowest entry point | Behind the goals, upper tier. Since the redevelopment these are far closer to the pitch than they once were. |
| Fondo Sur, lower (Grada Aitor Zabaleta) | £40 – £75 | Supporters who want the vocal home end | The south end carries the singing support. Around eight metres from the goal line after the stands were moved forward. |
| Tribuna Este | £55 – £100 | Side-on value across the full length of play | The east side opposite the main stand, two tiers. Generally the strongest value at this ground. |
| Tribuna Principal | £80 – £160 | Buyers prioritising sightline plus facilities | The main stand on the west side, two tiers, with the dugouts below. Upper rows carry a premium over lower. |
| Hospitality and premium areas | £200 – £450+ | Corporate guests or anyone marking an occasion | Limited units, currently affected by the expansion works reworking parts of the upper tiers. |
Prices reflect typical resale ranges and may change as demand and availability shift closer to the match.
For context, Real Sociedad's own season tickets run from roughly 280 to 635 euro for adults across a full campaign depending on sector, which is moderate by the standards of a club that has just won a domestic cup and reached the Champions League within the last three seasons.
The Estadio de Anoeta opened in August 1993, when Real Sociedad left the old Atotxa ground. It carried the Reale Arena name from 2019 under a naming-rights deal which has since lapsed, so you will see both names in circulation. The layout is four sides: the Tribuna Principal on the west, the Tribuna Este opposite, plus the Fondo Norte and Fondo Sur behind the goals.
One live complication for this season. Expansion work began in late May 2026, taking capacity from just over 39,000 towards 42,247 ahead of the 2030 World Cup, with new corner seating and cantilevered upper rows on two stands. Real Sociedad asked to play their opening two league fixtures away because of it, with ancillary works expected to continue into December. Comparing your block against the Anoeta seating plan matters more this season than most.
| Area | What It Suits | Pricing Bracket | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribuna Principal, upper | Buyers who want the definitive view | Higher | Elevated on the main stand side, level with halfway. The clearest read of the whole pitch in the ground. |
| Tribuna Principal, lower | Main stand position closer to pitch level | Mid to higher | Around ten metres from the touchline since the redevelopment, with the dugouts directly in front of you. |
| Tribuna Este, upper | Balanced value with a full side-on view | Mid | Facing the main stand across the pitch. Usually the strongest combination of price and sightline here. |
| Fondo Sur (Grada Aitor Zabaleta) | Supporters who want the home atmosphere | Lower to mid | The vocal end, named in memory of a Real Sociedad supporter who died in 1998. Expect standing and singing throughout. |
| Fondo Norte, home blocks | Buyers on the lowest budget | Lower | The opposite end, sharing the stand with the visiting sector. Close to the goal line by modern Spanish standards. |
| Visiting sector, Fondo Norte | Celta Vigo supporters only | Set by allocation | In the upper Fondo Norte, entered through Gate 9. Spanish rules leave the size to the home club rather than setting a minimum. |
If you are visiting once, the Tribuna Este upper tier is the sensible purchase: side-on, elevated, priced below the main stand, with a complete view of both ends. If you want the strongest position available and the budget allows, the upper Principal is worth the step. If atmosphere is the reason you are coming, the Fondo Sur is where it lives, which at this ground no longer costs you the view it once did.
Premium provision at the Anoeta is concentrated in the Tribuna Principal and is modest in volume, which is normal for a club of Real Sociedad's size rather than a shortcoming. The current expansion is reworking parts of the upper tiers plus relocating the press area, so the premium footprint is in transition through this season.
| Hospitality Option | Typical Buyer | Main Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Private box | Groups entertaining clients or marking an occasion | Enclosed space with dedicated service plus seating outside, on the main stand side |
| Premium package with dining | Basque businesses plus visiting professionals | Reserved Tribuna Principal seat, dining before the match, service at the interval, earlier entry |
| Shared lounge package | Pairs or small groups wanting comfort over exclusivity | Premium area with catering at a lower cost than a private box |
| Premium seat without catering | Buyers who want the sightline but not the package | Central main stand position at a materially lower total than a full hospitality tier |
The honest case for paying up here is weather rather than queuing. San Sebastián sits on the Bay of Biscay and gets genuine Atlantic rain, including in September, so a covered seat on the main stand is worth more on a wet night than the price difference suggests.
Getting to the ground is among the easiest in Spain. The Anoeta has its own station on the Euskotren network, roughly three minutes from Amara in the city centre, with services every ten to thirty minutes. City buses also serve the ground, while the walk from the centre takes around half an hour along the river. Parking nearby is limited, so the train is the sensible default.
Spain has among the most explicitly written nominative ticketing rules in European football, set out in the league's own sales regulations rather than left to each club. Sales must be nominative, recording the buyer's name plus identity document number, with identity verified at the stadium entrance.
The wording matters. Entry is not permitted to a person other than the one to whom the seat is assigned. The same regulations prohibit onward sale to third parties. The practical instruction for a buyer is simple: establish whose name the ticket will carry before you pay, then carry a photo identity document that matches it.
| Delivery Type | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Nominative digital ticket | Whose name the ticket will carry, plus how the seller handles the holder details. At a Spanish ground this is the first question, not the last. |
| Mobile or wallet transfer | Which email address receives the transfer plus whether an app is required. Load it before you leave for the ground rather than at Gate 9 in the rain. |
| Collection in San Sebastián | The collection window plus the exact pickup point. The city is compact, so collection here is straightforward compared with out-of-town stadiums. |
| Courier delivery of physical tickets | That the address is reachable before you travel, or that it is your Basque accommodation. Include a phone number, since Spanish couriers call ahead. |
Three habits matter more in Spain than elsewhere. Read the listing notes in full before paying, since they should specify the stand, the tier plus how the holder details are handled. Carry photo identification matching the name, for every person in your group. Arrive earlier than instinct suggests, because identity checks slow a queue once one forms.
One point specific to this season. With expansion work running through the ground, block numbering and access routes can differ from older published plans. Check the block on your listing against a current plan rather than a cached one, particularly in the upper tiers and the corners where the new seating is going in.
1BoxOffice has operated as a verified resale marketplace since 2006, with a 150% money-back guarantee behind every order. The process runs as follows.
Step1
Open the fixture page
Go to the listing page for this specific match. Confirm the date reads Thursday 3 September 2026 with a 19:00 kickoff, because this jornada was moved forward from mid-September and some listings still carry the original date.
Step2
Set up your account
You can create an account before or during checkout. Doing it first is worth the minute at a Spanish venue, because nominative tickets need accurate personal details rather than a rushed entry.
Step3
Filter by quantity first
Enter how many seats you need before browsing. Sellers list in fixed splits. Because most supply here comes from individual member releases, larger consecutive groups are scarcer than the headline availability implies.
Step4
Choose your stand and your tier
Both decisions matter at a double-tiered ground. A Tribuna Este upper seat and a Tribuna Este lower seat are different experiences at different prices, so settle the tier before comparing listings.
Step5
Read the listing notes
The notes should give the stand, the tier, the delivery method plus how the nominative details are handled. With building work in progress, confirm the block is in use this season.
Step6
Confirm the total at checkout
The checkout screen shows the full amount including fees plus delivery before you commit. Compare totals between listings rather than headline prices.
Step7
Complete payment securely
Pay through the secure checkout. An order confirmation arrives by email immediately, which stands as your record until the tickets themselves are delivered.
Step8
Follow your order through to delivery
Use track order to monitor progress. Spanish tickets frequently release late, because member seat returns only surface in the final week, so delivery inside the last fortnight is normal.
San Sebastián is one of the more rewarding places in Europe to build a football trip around, which is not something you can say about every fixture on this site. The city sits on the Bay of Biscay with the Concha bay at its centre, carrying a food culture that draws people who have no interest in the match at all. The ground is a half-hour walk or a three-minute train ride from the middle of it.
Access from outside the region is straightforward. San Sebastián has its own airport at Hondarribia, Bilbao is around 100 miles away with far more international routes, while Biarritz sits just over the French border.
The Euskotren network connects the ground directly, so no shuttle buses and no ring-road car parks are involved. If you are coming from Vigo for the away end, be realistic about the distance. It is roughly 700 kilometres each way across the whole northern coast, plus Celta's own ground at the Estadio de Balaídos is a very long day's travel from here.
Two points on the tickets for anyone travelling from abroad. Supply your identity details accurately at purchase, because Spanish grounds check the name against a photo document at the gate. Then request seats together explicitly rather than assuming a multi-seat listing places you side by side, which matters here given how much public supply arrives as single member returns.
For its first twenty-four years the Anoeta was one of the least intimate grounds in Spain. It was built as a multi-sport arena with a full athletics track. The distance from the stands to the pitch ran to about forty-two metres behind the goals, twenty-five metres along the sides. Supporters watched football from what felt like a different postcode.
Between 2017 and 2019 the club rebuilt it. The track was removed, the pitch was lowered by a metre and a half, both ends were reconstructed, the lower side stands brought forward. The distance behind the goals fell from forty-two metres to eight and a half, at the sides from twenty-five metres to ten and a half. Capacity rose from 32,076 to around 39,500, with the ground staying open throughout the work.
That transformation is the reason old advice about this stadium is worthless. Anyone who watched here before 2019, or who read a guide written before then, is describing a different building. The current expansion towards 42,247 continues the same direction of travel, driven by the 40,000-seat minimum required for 2030 World Cup venues.
One thing worth stating plainly, because plenty of pages get it wrong. These clubs are not rivals. Real Sociedad's derby is with Athletic Club, Celta's is with Deportivo La Coruña, with no shared history of enmity between San Sebastián and Vigo. What they do share is a corner of Spain: two clubs from the green, rainy Atlantic north with strong regional identities, who have spent recent seasons competing for the same European places.
All figures below cover La Liga meetings between the sides at the Estadio de Anoeta with Real Sociedad as hosts, running from December 1993 to January 2026. Matches at Balaídos, Copa del Rey ties, the six Segunda División meetings from Real Sociedad's spell in the second tier plus every match at the old Atotxa ground are excluded.
| Metric | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 27 |
| Real Sociedad wins | 13 |
| Celta Vigo wins | 7 |
| Draws | 7 |
| Real Sociedad goals | 42 |
| Celta Vigo goals | 33 |
| Biggest Real Sociedad win | 3-1 |
| Biggest Celta Vigo win | 0-2 |
| First meeting in scope | 5 December 1993 |
| Most recent meeting in scope | 25 January 2026 |
No meeting between these clubs at this ground has ever been decided by more than two goals, across thirty-three years. Real Sociedad have recorded that two-goal margin four times, most recently in January 2026, while Celta's only two-goal win here came in September 1999. The one seven-goal night, a 4-3 in November 2013, remains the outlier in an otherwise tight sequence.
Figures compiled from match archives, with the sequence independently structure-checked against the twenty-seven seasons in which both clubs were in La Liga with this stadium open, plus individual results spot-verified against league and club match reports. One widely syndicated database reverses the most recent scoreline; the 3-1 used here is confirmed by both clubs' own reporting.
All twenty-seven, newest first. Scores are given as Real Sociedad first, Celta Vigo second. The gaps cover seasons when one or both clubs were in the Segunda División.
| Date | Score |
|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2026 | 3-1 |
| 13 May 2025 | 0-1 |
| 19 Aug 2023 | 1-1 |
| 18 Feb 2023 | 1-1 |
| 08 Jan 2022 | 1-0 |
| 22 Apr 2021 | 2-1 |
| 24 Jun 2020 | 0-1 |
| 26 Nov 2018 | 2-1 |
| 21 Jan 2018 | 1-2 |
| 22 Jan 2017 | 1-0 |
| 31 Oct 2015 | 2-3 |
| 07 Feb 2015 | 1-1 |
| 23 Nov 2013 | 4-3 |
| 25 Aug 2012 | 2-1 |
| 20 May 2007 | 3-1 |
| 07 May 2006 | 2-2 |
| 02 Sep 2003 | 1-1 |
| 18 Jan 2003 | 1-0 |
| 16 Sep 2001 | 0-0 |
| 04 Feb 2001 | 2-2 |
| 25 Sep 1999 | 0-2 |
| 20 Dec 1998 | 2-0 |
| 15 Oct 1997 | 2-1 |
| 23 Oct 1996 | 1-2 |
| 11 Feb 1996 | 3-1 |
| 20 Nov 1994 | 2-3 |
| 05 Dec 1993 | 2-1 |
Results cross-referenced against league and club match reporting. Seasons absent from the list are those in which one or both clubs were outside the top flight.
Thursday 3 September 2026, kicking off at 19:00 local time. The jornada was moved forward from its original mid-September slot because both clubs play in the Europa League that week.
San Sebastián, also called Donostia, on the Basque coast in Gipuzkoa. It is sometimes confused with San Sebastián de los Reyes near Madrid, which is roughly 450 kilometres away.
Later than you would elsewhere. Most public tickets here come from members releasing seats they cannot use, which surface in the final week rather than months ahead.
In the upper Fondo Norte, entered through Gate 9. Spanish rules leave the allocation size to the home club rather than mandating a percentage, with distribution handled by Celta.
It can. The expansion towards 42,247 started in May 2026 and ancillary work runs into December, so check your block against a current plan rather than an older one.
Sources: LaLiga official club fixture listings for the rescheduled date and kickoff time; the LaLiga Reglamento de Venta de Abonos y Entradas, Libro XII, for nominative sales, identity checks at entry and visiting-sector allocation; Real Sociedad official club communications for the stadium, membership, the seat-release scheme and facilities; Spanish and Basque regional reporting on the current expansion works, their budget and revised capacity; StadiumDB and Spanish stadium references for the 2017 to 2019 redevelopment dimensions, cost and capacity change; worldfootball.net match archives with individual results spot-verified against LaLiga match reports and both clubs' own reporting; LaLiga season tables and occupancy reporting for finishing positions, European qualification and attendance.