Tonight was special and ended up great. La Real won 3-1 against Sevilla FC and took three valuable points. We won and paid tribute to Carlos Vela. He said goodbye on a large scale. As a final touch of his six years and a half txuri-urdin career, he scored during the last match of 2017. It was a moving closing game, we won, we celebrated and we said goodbye to a football player who has made us very happy.
As usual, la Real started dominating the game. The realistas tried to make the most of their passing game, they had the possession and were putting pressure on the team from Sevilla. In the 17th minute, Iñigo put the team in front with a firm header. The realistas had the match under control and Rulli was feeling comfortable. However, on the stroke of half-time, he had no chance of saving Ben Yedder’s powerful effort. A draw at the half-time. The away team didn’t deserve that award.
The second seemed a more even game. The Nervionenses came out brighter. Despite that, la Real generated a lot of danger. Before getting injured, Januzaj had a great chance to score but his strike was parried by the goalkeeper. With a quarter of an hour left to play, Oyarzábal made a great pass and Igor Zubeldia scored after his effort was deflected past Soria. In the 90th minute, Vela sealed the win in a perfect style.
The bad streak is over, we won against a big opponent. To end the year, this big moment is a moral support which will help us face 2018 with renewed expectations. Aúpa Real!
Line-ups:
Real Sociedad: Rulli, Odriozola, Llorente R., Raúl Navas, I. Martínez, Illarra, Zurutuza (Zubeldia, min.76), X. Prieto (cap), Canales (Carlos V., min.78), Januzaj (Oyarzabal, min.60) and Willian J.
Sevilla FC: David Soria, Corchia (Nolito, min.81), Geis, Kjar, Escudero (cap), Pizarro, Banega, Krohn Dehli (Muriel, min.81), Ganso (Franco Vázquez, min.64), Sarabia and Ben Yedder.
Goals: 1-0: I. Martínez, min.17. 1-1: Ben Yedder, min.45. 2-1: Zubeldia, min.76. 3-1: Carlos V., min.90.
Referee: Hernández Hernández. He booked the local player Raúl Navas and away player Ben Yedder, Pizarro, Corchia, Franco Vázquez, Kjaer.
Attendance: 17.205 spectators.
