Real Sociedad, under the direction of Pellegrino Matarazzo, has consolidated its best start in the League since the 2020-21 season, adding 19 points and 19 goals in the first ten games. The victory over Levante in Anoeta marked the team's sixth consecutive victory in all competitions, with only one draw and no defeats, which places them in fifth position in the championship and one point behind Betis, which occupies fourth place and is directly in the race for the Champions League.
The San Sebastian club has had four consecutive victories in LaLiga, beating Valencia, Deportivo, Málaga and Levante. This streak had not been achieved since January 2023, when the team was under the management of Imanol Alguacil, and breaks the psychological barrier of three consecutive wins that had been the maximum in previous campaigns. The comparison with the start of 2023, when Real Sociedad achieved five consecutive victories and reached mathematical qualification for the Champions League at the end of the season, suggests that the current performance is not a transitory phenomenon.
In terms of goals, the team has scored 19 in ten games, with an average of almost two goals per game, nine more than last year's figure. The 2020-21 season was the highest scoring season in the club's recent history, with 21 goals in ten games, and Real Sociedad is very close to that level. In the 2022-23 campaign, the team had scored 16 goals in the first ten games, three less than this season. The main difference lies in defense: while the 2022 block conceded few goals, Matarazzo's offensive strategy takes greater risks on defense in exchange for a more intense offensive flow.
With Sevilla's victory over Osasuna, Real Sociedad remains two points behind fourth place and five points behind seventh place, Deportivo Alavés. The gap with the teams chasing it has widened considerably, which favors the interests of Real Sociedad in the fight for the Champions League.
In summary, the first quarter of the championship shows Real Sociedad as a serious contender for the highest demands, with a consolidated position, a widened gap over the pursuers and the possibility of accessing the Champions League with a single game difference. Matarazzo's plan seems to be working and the team is prepared to continue advancing in the competition.