Sentenced by a rough start

Real Sociedad come away from Vila-real empty-handed after a 3–1 defeat, with a devastating start forcing the txuri-urdin to chase the game from the outset and leaving them with little chance of getting back into it.

The game was decided early. Real Sociedad started well, but the hosts scored with their first chance through Gerard and added two more via Mikautadze and Pepé to lead 3–0 after 23 minutes. Despite the setback, the visitors tried to respond and looked to get back into the game, with Oyarzabal going close in a one-on-one that Luiz Júnior managed to save.

Right after the restart, Sučić pulled one back from a rebound following a corner. Real Sociedad pushed for a second with more intensity, taking greater risks and opening the game up. Both sides had chances to score again, but while the visitors created a few, the hosts produced more and better opportunities.

Real Sociedad leave La Cerámica empty-handed. The hosts were clearly superior, and there is little to add. Focus now shifts to the next game.

Match sheet:

Villarreal CF: Luiz Junior, Mouriño, Navarro, Veiga, Pedraza, Comesaña (Partey, min.89), Gueye (Parejo, min.89), Moleiro (Gonzales, min.74), Pepé, Gerard (cap)(Buchanan, min.74) and Mikautadze (Oluwaseyi, min.89).

Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aramburu (Elustondo, min.68), Zubeldia (Ćaleta-Car, min.54), Martín, Sergio Gómez, Gorrotxa (Sučić, min.46), Soler, Brais Méndez (Óskarsson, min.68), Barrene, Guedes and Oyarzabal (cap) (Zakharyan, min.82).

Goals: 1-0: Gerard, min.7. 2-0: Mikautadze, min.15. 3-0: Pepé, min.23. 3-1: Sučić, min.47.

Referee: Ortiz Arias. Booked Guedes and Aramburu for Real Sociedad.