Step back

Real Sociedad left Mendizorrotza empty-handed after a performance in which the txuri urdin struggled to find their rhythm. A stoppage-time goal from Lucas Boyé at the end of the first half ultimately denied Sergio Francisco’s side any points.

In the first half, the txuri urdin struggled to settle. Alavés, despite creating little aside from a few set-piece threats, looked more composed throughout. A header from Soler and another from Martín —the latter crashing against the post— were La Real’s clearest chances. Then, in stoppage time, after a corner, the ball struck Aritz’s hand inside the area and Lucas Boyé converted the resulting penalty. There was no time left to respond.

After the break, the Gipuzkoan side remained toothless in attack. They failed to pose any real threat to Sivera, who went through the entire second half without being called into action. La Real lacked ideas and precision in the final third. Although the substitutions injected some late energy and the team pushed harder in the closing minutes, it still wasn’t enough to take anything from their visit to Basque rivals. This is the txuri urdin’s second straight defeat, halting their progress up the league table.

Match details:

Deportivo Alavés: Sivera, Jonny, Tenaglia, Pacheco, Parada, Guevara (cap)(Aleñá, min.76), Pablo Ibáñez, Denis Suárez (Youssef, min.93), Rebbach (Protesoni, min.76), Calebe (Vicente, min.50) and Lucas Boyé.

Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aramburu, Aritz (cap)(Caleta-Car, min.56), Martín, Sergio Gómez, Gorrotxa (Zakharya, min.78), Soler (Goti, min.87), Brais Méndez, Take (Karrikaburu, min.78), Guedes and Sadiq (Barrene, min.56).

Goal: 1-0: Lucas Boyé (pen), min.45+4.

Referee: Javier Alberola. Booked Guevara and Tenaglia for Alavés and Gorrotxa and Aramburu for Real Sociedad.