Beating Real Sociedad at San Sebastián isn’t just about pride. This Sunday marked Silva’s milestone—900 professional appearances—as Real prepared to celebrate a long-running spell with him in the squad. The 37-year-old world champion led the charge as MVP of a match his side dominated in the early stages, while Kubo used one of his assists to punish a struggling Elche, who appeared short on both desire and defense. Still, Real could not quite pin down their opponents on the day, finishing without another goal after the 1-0 lead.
Real’s control was clear with Kubo and Silva at the center of the action. From the Canary magician, a clever move sent Mascarell forward, but the resulting sequence finished with a tense, imprecise finish. Kubo himself had a second opportunity before Elche’s first attempt, a strike from Gumbau from outside the area that Remiro barely pushed away.
Why Elche faced a tough afternoon
Elche resisted deeply but felt the pressure. Tete Morente stood out in the second half after a strong showing against Valladolid, and the Andalusian winger found himself pressed into defensive duty against Aihen. In a left-sided foray, Sorloth managed to make contact with a promising ball to score, but the chance went astray.
Morente and Palacios pushed forward, while Silva shifted to close down space on the wing, letting the Norwegian forward breathe and creating room for Sorloth to weave through. Verdú’s intervention helped keep the danger at bay as Edgar Badia did his best to cover the central corridor and limit the danger to his side. Yet Elche’s error-prone moment when Badia mishandled a routine pass toward Kubo briefly opened a chance for Real, only to be recovered by the goalkeeper and his teammates in time.
As the first half wore on, Elche found it hard to loosen Real’s grip. Badia’s goalkeeping stood out again after a poor touch set up a quick-fire counter for Real, and Kubo’s creativity continued to test the visitors. Elche’s midfield balance remained intact before the break thanks to a long-range strike from Gumbau that required Remiro to stretch to keep the score level.
Approaching the 45th minute, Real intensified their pressure. Palacios and his teammates battled to clear the danger after a corner was finished by Zubeldia, then blocked a rapid counter that began with Verdú losing the ball near his own box. With the score still at 0-0, Elche feared the worst in the final moments as Gumbau clipped Kubo near the edge of the area. In other days, a VAR review might have altered the decision; this time, the call stayed clean and the match moved toward halftime with the score unchanged.
A breakthrough arrives for Real
In a moment that felt like déjà vu, the second half opened with a familiar connection between Silva and Kubo. Elche couldn’t prevent the strike this time. The player from Arguineguín delivered another precise pass to the Kawasaki-bound forward, a delivery shaped with the same surgical care that marked his best moments on the field.
Kubo’s finish broke the rhythm Real had sought through the first 45 minutes. The goal altered the match’s trajectory and erased the need for Elche to cling to survival alone. The visitors looked for a replenished counter, hoping to catch Real on the break, but the balance shifted toward Real’s attack as the clock moved on.
Back on the other end, Silva continued to push forward from the right, nearly doubling the lead with a shot that struck the post. Badia and his central defenders held firm, denying Sorloth any clear chance to finish, even as the striker kept Midlands-patterned pressure alive. Silva stayed involved into the 78th minute, forcing a corner with another dynamic run and a dangerous cross that unsettled the defense. Substitutions for Real, including Kubo, kept the intensity high and the balance tilted toward their side as the game moved into its late stages.
Elche’s hopes of an equalizer remained faint. The visitors never quite found a sustained spell of pressure, and as the minutes ticked away, Real tacked on more control rather than conceding space. In the final moments, a cross from Barrenetxea found its way through as Carmona saved a shot at the near post. Elche’s courage carried them to the 89th minute, but the result looked unlikely to change on this day at San Sebastián.
In the end, Real Sociedad left without a second goal, but the performance offered a clear snapshot of their intent and capability. The win reinforced the sense that Real can balance veteran leadership with the pace and precision of youth, while Elche took away lessons about maintaining shape and discipline under sustained pressure. The match’s outcome rested on a blend of individual moments and collective defense, a balance Real Sociedad continues to cultivate as they press toward the season’s next tests. [Reported from post-match notes] (El Diario)