Data sheet:
Real Sociedad closed 2022 with a convincing 2-0 victory over Osasuna, a win that marked Mikel Oyarzabal’s long-awaited return after more than nine months on the sidelines due to a training injury. The result earned the txuri urdin three points, lifting them back into third place in La Liga and setting up a promising and emotional start to 2023.
Head coach Imanol Alguacil adjusted his lineup to cover the absence of Mikel Merino, shifting away from the usual 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 structure that he leaned on last season. In attack, Kubo, Sorloth and Cho led the forward line, while Arrasate of Osasuna deployed a back three with fullbacks Rubén Peña and Manu Sánchez stepping into midfield roles to support the build-up play. The tactical chess match unfolded as a clear plan from Real Sociedad aimed at controlling possession and dictating tempo from the outset.
The match quickly became a contest of control, a feature of the night as Real dominated the central areas while Osasuna organized compactly and looked to counter through quick transitions. Real carried the initiative for long stretches, pressing high and trying to pin the visitors back, even as Osasuna demonstrated resilience and discipline in defending their goal.
At the 22nd minute, a throw-in setup sparked a decisive moment. Kubo found Brais Méndez with a clever cut inside, and the midfielder fired from a tight angle to pierce Aitor Fernández’s near post. The strike, Brais Méndez’s seventh in the league, underscored his season-long contribution and provided Real with a deserved lead.
Chimy Ávila, looking to spark a reaction from Osasuna, pushed forward with intent but found Remiro well placed to deny his effort. Real continued to press, with Silva orchestrating moves at a brisk pace and delivering moments of real quality that highlighted the team’s technical superiority in the final third. Yet the visitors remained stubborn in defense, keeping the scoreline tight at the break.
After the restart, Real Sociedad seemed to sense a path to a second goal more clearly. Pressure intensified around the box, and the 53rd minute saw a sustained sequence in which Silva linked with Kubo before Cho unleashed a high shot that tested Aitor Fernández. Five minutes later, Brais tried his luck again from a distance, testing the goalkeeper once more, while Kubo found space and fired a powerful shot that forced a save as well as a moment of danger for Osasuna.
Real finally found a second goal in a flowing move that began with Silva on the edge of the midfield three-quarter area. His deft touch sent Brais charging forward and combining with him to destabilize the Osasuna defense. Sorloth created the exposure by pulling wide and then finishing with precision after a clever dummy that misled the goalkeeper and left the ball nestled in the far corner. The goal doubled Real Sociedad’s lead and reinforced the sense that the home side were in command of the match.
Arrasate reacted by reshuffling his squad and switching to a 4-3-3, prompting Osasuna to press higher and push Real deeper. The adjustment fueled a more open tactical phase as the visitors sought to bridge the gap, but a crucial moment arrived when Darko Brašanac headed a ball back into the box and narrowly found space, only for Zubeldia to make a timely interception to avert a goal-scoring opportunity.
With the clock ticking, Real’s defense remained alert and disciplined, and the coaches’ strategic swaps kept the match balanced only in terms of chances but never in the scoreline. As Osasuna pressed forward, Real continued to defend with composure, absorbing pressure and looking for counterattacking moments that could end in a third goal but still maintaining control of the pace and rhythm of the game.
The match’s conclusion carried a double significance for Real Sociedad. On one hand, the victory cemented a hard-earned three points that restored them to a top-three position heading into the new calendar year. On the other hand, the return of Mikel Oyarzabal, who rejoined the action four minutes after a nine-month layoff caused by a mid-season injury during practice, provided a much more emotional and symbolic boost for the club and its supporters. His comeback helped cap a night that already belonged to the team’s collective performance and strategic execution.
2 – Real Sociedad: Remiro; Aritz, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Rico; Zubimendi, Brais (Illarramendi, m. 80), Silva (Ander Martín, m. 80); Kubo (Navarro, m. 80), Sorloth (Oyarzabal, m. 86), Cho (Navarro, m. 74).
0 – Osasuna: Aitor Fernández; Juan Cruz (Abde, m. 77), Unai García (Darko, m. 66), David García; Rubén Peña, Moncayola, Torró (Rubén García, m. 66), Moi Gómez, Manu Sánchez; Aimar (Kike García, art. 58) and Chimy Ávila (Kike Barja, art. 77).
Goals: 1-0, 22: Brais; 2-0, 64: Sorloth.
Referee: Pizarro Gómez (C. Madrid). Warned the local Brais (art. 67); and visitor Unai García (m. 56).
Events: The match, played on the fifteenth day of La Liga Santander, welcomed 34,847 spectators at the Reale Arena. Before kickoff, eight bertsolaris who participated in the Euskal Herria bertsos Championship final paid tribute, with champion Maialen Lujanbio kicking off. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pelé.