In a match that mixed grit with sharp technique, Real Sociedad claimed a hard‑fought victory at Balaídos with a 1-2 scoreline, as Zubeldia struck early in the second half to tilt the standings in favor of the Basque club over Celta Vigo. The result nudged the visitors up the table ahead of Atletico Madrid, despite a tense and evenly balanced contest.
The Basque side fought through a demanding finale to secure their seventh straight win across league and European competition. They did not dominate possession or territory, yet they exploited their opponent’s fragile defense at decisive moments, maintaining an aura of resilience and opportunism that defined their run of form.
The opening exchanges were cautious, with play shaped more by discipline than open attacking gambits. Eight minutes of stoppage time added to the half reflected the game’s interruptions and the tactical nature of the encounter rather than any reckless tempo.
Coach Imanol Alguacil’s approach did not rely on overpowering noise from midfield. Instead, he asked his team to press high and cut off Real Madrid’s most creative players, aiming to blunt their opponent’s ideas. When Real Sociedad pressed into the opposing half, the plan produced moments of danger and forced errors that the visitors capitalized on.
At the 30th minute, a miscue by Gabri Veiga cleared the way for the txuri-urdin captain along the sideline. Illarra shifted his body, struck with the left foot, and guided a shot beyond a stretched Marchesín to break the deadlock and push his team into the lead near the near post.
Their advantage could have grown four minutes later, when a clever pass from Diego Rico released Sorloth into space. The striker beat the central defender Aidoo and advanced into the Galician box, though his finish struck the post and stayed out, keeping the score narrowly in favor of the visitors.
@asorloth He found the goal in his boots! #CelticRoyalSociety #LaLigaSantander#LaLigaFeatured pic.twitter.com/VOOoJEMuLs
LaLiga highlights captured the moment as the ball found its way to the Norwegian forward Larsen, who posed problems for the Celta defense with his tireless runs and clever off-ball work. The young forward’s persistence continued to give Real Sociedad trouble as the first half concluded.
The equalizer arrived through a misfortune for Zubimendi, who misjudged a ball at the edge of his own box, gifting Iago Aspas a clear scoring chance that he converted to level proceedings before the break.
After the interval, Alguacil immediately reshaped his plan, bringing Merino on for Illarramendi and tightening the midfield balance to press higher and minimize space for the Galician attack. The substitution helped Real Sociedad regain control and reassert their attacking intent at pace and precision.
The decisive moment came when Merino forced a corner through sustained pressure. From the resulting cross, Marchesín could only parry, and Zubeldia pounced to steer the ball home beyond the goalkeeper and consign Celta to a setback they could not recover from.
Celta Vigo pressed forward in waves, trading chances with Real Sociedad as the visitors retreated to protect their lead. Yet Remiro stood tall, producing a decisive save when Carles Pérez drilled a low shot, ensuring the scoreline remained in favor of the away side.
With three forwards—Aspas, Larsen, and Paciencia—on the field, Celta pushed for a late equalizer, but Real Sociedad held firm. The visitors’ organization and willingness to absorb pressure while breaking decisively defined the closing stages of a tightly fought game.
Data sheet:
1 – Celtic RC: starter; Hugo Mallo, Mingueza, Aidoo, Unai Núñez, Javi Galán; Beltran; Óscar Rodríguez, Gabri Veiga, Cervi, Paciencia; Aspas and Larsen.
2 – Royal Society: Gorosabel, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Aihen, Diego Rico; Zubimendi, Illarra, Brais Méndez, David Silva, Kubo, Sorloth.
Goals: 0-1, 30th minute: Illarra. 1-1, 38th minute: Iago Aspas. 1-2, 54th minute: Zubeldia.
Referee: Cuadra Fernández. Paciencia received a red card late in the game, while several players were cautioned for both sides as the match progressed. The fixture marked the ninth round of LaLiga Santander and drew a crowd of 13,101 at Balaídos. (Source: LaLiga reports)