Photo Credit: Getty Images
Real Sociedad’s run without conceding at the Reale Arena stretched to more than 10 hours after Takefusa Kubo’s (23) solo strike earned a vital 1-0 win to go within two points of opponents Villarreal, who have now lost three of their last four matches on the road.
Despite Villarreal’s top-five position, only relegation-threatened Real Valladolid had conceded more goals than Marcelino’s side going into the weekend, but the return of Juan Foyth to the starting lineup after more than a year out certainly provided encouragement in that department. They successfully subdued Sociedad - who themselves are among the lowest scorers in the division - in the early stages while spawning a chance at the other end as Thierno Barry was released by Pape Gueye but failed to add to his hat-trick against Leganes last time out.
One player determined to turn the hosts’ attacking woes around was Kubo, who subsequently set up his side’s best chance of the half. His foray into the area saw the ball deflected out for Luka Sucic to rasp a shot against the base of the near post, but that spelt the end of the opening period’s limited action. However, the sparse but passionate Anoeta crowd roared into life just minutes after the restart when Kubo brilliantly took Mikel Oyarzabal’s long ball on his head and raced into the box, turning inside Kiko Femenia and finishing off the inside of the post.
Luckily for Marcelino, club legend Gerard Moreno was waiting to change things off the bench, and he tested Alex Remiro just moments after entering the fray. Luiz Junior then made a strong save of his own to stop Sucic’s deflected shot from trickling in before play switched back to the other end as the visitors’ desperation for an equaliser intensified. However, their finishing wasn’t dangerous enough from the likes of Barry and Gueye to trouble the steadfast Remiro, and the home side held onto the narrow victory.
A sixth unbeaten outing on home turf for Sociedad was paired with yet another shutout for Remiro, extending his lead at the top of the clean sheets table with an 11th of the campaign. The defeat not only sees Villarreal slip further from Athletic Club in the UEFA Champions League places but also allows La Real to enter the race themselves.
