La Real caught up with their pending matches by winning comfortably tonight in Mallorca. The txuri urdin clinched all three points with goals by Silva and Merino and consolidate their good situation in the league.
The game started with many alternatives. It was an intense, high tempo affair that saw the sides evenly matched. Mallorca enjoyed the first chance with a shot from inside the area that hit Pacheco. Then, Sorloth produced the first dangerous move for the txuri urdin but his shot went just wide. With 30 minutes on the clock, la Real added the first following some sublime link-up play between David Silva and Mikel Merino. The magician controlled the ball on and played in Merino, who returned the sphere to our number 21 so that he could produce a textbook finish in front of goal to give the txuri urdin a 0-1 lead. The realistas almost doubled their advantage through Sorloth, but his left-footed shot from the edge of the area went narrowly wide. La Real maintained their usual strength and were ahead at the break.
After the restart, the hosts played better, pressing the realistas up top without allowing them to get the ball out clearly. However, the txuri urdin took advantage of a corner kick to add a second. Merino pulled a goal back for la Real. He headed at the far post but the ball hit a defender and fell back to the player from Navarre who made no mistake with his right foot. La Real controlled the game well and had more chances to increase their lead. Again, Merino, in a fine individual move, hit the ball against the crossbar. La Real were unable to score from counterattacks that were poorly finished.
This victory keeps the txuri urdin in the privileged zone of LaLiga. La Real now turn their attention to the match against Real Madrid which will take place on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu. Aupa, Real!
Match sheet:
RCD Mallorca: Sergio Rico, Maffeo (González, min.79), Valjent, Raíllo (cap), Oliván, Antonio Sánchez (Baba, min.79), Salva Sevilla (Hoppe, min.68), Dani Rodríguez, Kubo (Lee, min.70), Ndiaye (Llabres, min.69) and Muriqi
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aritz (Sola, min.70), Le Normand, Pacheco, Gorosabel (Zubeldia, min.80), Guevara (Zubimendi, min.46), Merino (Illarra, min.85), Silva, Oyarzabal (cap), Portu (Djouahra, min.70) and Sorloth.
Goals:0-1: Silva, min.35. 0-2: Merino, min.62
Referee: Melero López. Booked Merino and Remiro for Real Sociedad.