Real Sociedad Seizes a 5-3 Victory in a Thrilling Montilivi Showdown
Real Sociedad closed out a high-scoring Sunday in Girona with a 5-3 win that electrified Montilivi. A night marked by attacking flair featured goals from Brais Méndez, Martin Zubimendi, Take Kubo, and a standout performance by Sorloth and Merino as the Basque side climbed to sixth place after an intense LaLiga clash.
Despite the defeat, Girona remained on a two-match winning streak, still holding a three-point cushion above the relegation zone. The Catalan club pushed hard but could not stem the tide as Real Sociedad pressed from the opening whistle.
La Real took early control, initiating sustained forward pressure from the kickoff with the same lineup that had defeated Espanyol. Within five minutes, Montilivi was buzzing with the visitors’ relentless push, and Kubo tested the Girona keeper Juan Carlos Martín from a tight angle on the left side.
At eight minutes, a precise cross from the left found Sorloth, who finished clinically from close range for his second goal of the campaign, exposing Girona’s vulnerability on a night when the home defense struggled to keep a clean sheet. Real Sociedad continued to dominate possession in a wide field and created several chances that could have widened the scoreline by the tenth minute, including a curling effort from Méndez from the edge of the area.
Forced to respond, Girona attempted to advance, though their efforts lacked the necessary foresight. Taty Castellanos and Manu Vallejo offered some spark for the Catalan side, yet Riquelme produced a moment of genius to draw Girona level, weaving past opponents and firing a long-range shot that beat Álex Remiro and sparked the home crowd into a frenzy around the 23rd minute mark.
The match continued to swing. Girona pulled ahead briefly when Arnau headed home from a corner after a set piece chaos, though Real Sociedad immediately contested the decision, arguing a foul on Mikel Merino in the buildup. The referee allowed play to continue, and the scoreboard reflected Girona’s lead, though Real bounced back with a late first-half push that saw a second equalizer from Sorloth after a neat chest control and a powerful volley to relevel the match at 2-2 before the break.
The second half picked up with more drama. Merino fired a shot close to goal, and Castellanos answered with a driving run from the middle of the park, finishing decisively past Remiro to give Girona a temporary edge. The response from Real Sociedad was immediate and clinical. Kubo carved open space on the left, forcing a save from the keeper, while Miguel Gutiérrez battled to keep Real’s momentum alive from the right flank.
The visitors found their relief in the 66th minute when Méndez converted a composed finish after a scrappy passage of play within the box. The goal marked the forward’s fourth of the season and sent the balance back in Real Sociedad’s favor after a prolonged VAR review that clarified the sequence leading to the strike.
The decisive moment of the night arrived in the 71st minute. A string of patient attacks culminated in a clever pass from David Silva that split the Girona defense, allowing Zubimendi to collect near the edge of the box and slide a quiet finish past the keeper for Real Sociedad to edge ahead 3-4. The home side chased an equalizer, but the stark truth of the night was written in the visitors’ continued threat on the counterattack.
With a final burst of energy, Kubo sealed the victory in the 85th minute with a composed finish after regaining possession on the left, clinching a dramatic 3-0 closing sequence that capped a memorable six-goal exchange. The resulting 3-5 scoreline reflected a thrilling clash that captivated the Montilivi crowd throughout the evening.
In the aftermath, fans noted the referee Melero López from the Andalusian committee and the match’s physical toll, with several bookings and near-misses punctuating the afternoon. The Estadi Municipal de Montilivi welcomed 12,217 spectators who witnessed a game that highlighted the attacking intent and resilience of both teams.
Data sheet
Girona FC: Juan Carlos; Arnau, Santi Bueno, Bernardo, Juanpe; Gutiérrez, Romeu, Aleix García; Riquelme; Manu Vallejo, Castellanos. Subs: Yan Couto (79), Valery (76), Herrera (54), Ureña (79), Sola (55), etc.
Real Sociedad: Remiro; Gorosabel, Guevara, Pacheco, Aihen; Zubimendi; Méndez, Merino; Silva, Turrientes; Al, Sorloth. Subs: Álex Sola (55), Guevara (83), Navarro (88), Carlos Fernández (88), etc.
Final scores: 0-1 Sorlot at 8 minutes; 1-1 Riquelme at 23 minutes; 2-1 Arnau at 27 minutes; 2-2 Sorlot at 42 minutes; 3-2 Castellanos at 48 minutes; 3-3 Brais Méndez at 66 minutes; 3-4 Zubimendi at 71 minutes; 3-5 Take at 85 minutes. Referee: Melero López. The match took place on the seventh LaLiga Santander day at Montilivi, with Girona pressing high and Real Sociedad finding joy on the break. Expectations remained high as both sides threatened to swing the result in the closing stages, but Real Sociedad held firm and delivered a memorable victory.