real society visited mestalla this Wednesday with a mission to grab three points and stretch its lead. in the first half, the visitors pressed with intent, while a determined local side tried to limit the rival’s quality. the san sebastian squad played the full forty-five minutes with a man less after a late booking, yet they stood their ground and kept the match tight until the break.
real sociedad had not tasted victory at the mestalla since the 2016/17 campaign and hoped to seize leadership. from the early moments, imanol alguacil’s team dominated possession, setting a slow tempo to deny the momentum valencianista hoped to build. javi guerra pulled the strings in midfield, with amallah pushing higher in support.
valencia shifted the play from side to side, trying to pin the visitors back, and for a while real sociedad settled into a patient build. cho surged down the left and, after shedding thierry, delivered a low cross that carlos fernández barely missed. mamardashvili reacted in time, preserving the scoreline and giving valencia a warning sign.
the home side, however, grew more direct as they found and exploited space. ten minutes later, guerra curled a shot narrowly wide, signaling that valencia’s approach could test the visitors on transitions and quick counters. the best attacking moment for the visitors came when remiro produced a sharp save to deny amallah on a header from thierry’s precise cross. still, the scoreline remained intact as real sociedad weathered the valencian pressure.
carlos fernández then carved out a breakthrough, ghosting past diakhaby and mamardashvili with an incisive move after a free kick routine from tierney set up the play. the finish arrived decisively for real sociedad, leaving valencia stunned and searching for a response. in the wake of that strike, valencia’s momentum faded, and amallah showed continued tenacity, earning a card after an off-ball incident as he clashed with oyarzabal while seeking parity.
as the first half extended, added time brought a tense moment when pepelu’s direct free kick sailed over the crossbar. the half concluded with real sociedad on the front foot, calmly managing the clock and maintaining control of the tempo.
after the break, valencia’s intensity dropped as physical fatigue took its toll. the home side, already short on options, found it harder to sustain pressure, while real sociedad remained compact and prepared to strike on counters. gaye exited the field with an illness, and the visitors adjusted with substitutions that fortified their midfield and backline. zubimendi, supported by zubeldia and brias mendes, helped stabilize the shift and keep the visitors calm as valencia grew increasingly strained and disorganized in attack.
valencia’s rhythm fractured, and the match became physically scrappy. the home team’s urgency waned as the counterminded visitors controlled the pace, extending the defending lines and waiting for opportunities to break away. yaremchuk, who arrived in the final stages, found his sight on goal but missed a crucial chance after a foul by pepelu disrupted valencia’s rhythm. despite valencia’s late push into the visitors’ box, real sociedad remained resolute and continued to mirror its own organized game plan, standing firm against the home side’s pressure.
throughout the latter stages, the san sebastian team demonstrated discipline and patience, keeping their shape as valencia pressed with urgency but little precision. the result underscored a broader theme: real sociedad’s management and on-pitch organization offered a blueprint that valencia could study as they regroup for upcoming fixtures. the final whistle confirmed a valuable away win for real sociedad, a performance that showcased their ability to control games away from home and convert limited chances into decisive moments.
in the post-match reflections, analysts highlighted the strategic balance that defined the contest. real sociedad’s compact defense, intelligent use of space, and efficient transitions contrasted with valencia’s moments of attack that lacked a consistent cutting edge. the match served as a reminder that leadership on the road often depends on cerebral use of possessions, timely pressing, and the capacity to withstand pressure when the form of the opponent demands it. this encounter offered a clear takeaway for both sides as they prepared for the next round of fixtures, with real sociedad hoping to carry the momentum and valencia aiming to sharpen their cohesion and execution on the field.[attribution: movistar futbol]