Real Sociedad achieved an unexpected 3-2 victory over Deportivo de La Coruña at the Anoeta, despite having been on the verge of losing a win that seemed inevitable. The match, which was played before 33,644 spectators, became a rollercoaster of emotions where the Txuri Urdin's early lead was threatened by a series of events that almost crumbled their dominance.
The first 54 minutes were Real's domain. Jon Martín opened the scoring in the 29th minute, followed by a goal from Zakharyan in the 34th minute and Guedes' third goal in the 54th minute, leaving the visitors with a 3-0 lead. However, the Basque team's defense showed vulnerabilities that Deportivo took advantage of. Mario Soriano scored in the 61st minute, reducing the difference to 3-1, and in the 69th the striker Yeremay completed the comeback with a header, leaving Real at 3-2 with only ten minutes of play.
The match was marked by several referee decisions that altered the flow of the match. Miguel Sesma's intervention in the 66th minute resulted in a penalty and a red card for Pablo Marín after a hit on Nsongo. Amatucci's expulsion in the 90th, which involved a clash with Oyarzabal, also influenced the dynamics at the end of the game. Despite Real's advantage in most moments, Deportivo remained on their feet thanks to the resistance of their defense and the effectiveness of their forwards.
Coach Matarazzo made five changes to the team, replacing Oyarzabal with Zakharyan and Ochieng with Barrenetxea, among other adjustments that sought to reinforce defensive solidity and offensive mobility. The absence of Oyarzabal, who had been a starter from the first day, was one of the most notable surprises. Up front, Zakharyan served as a false nine, while Guedes and Sucic contributed on the wing and in the center of the attack, respectively.
In defense, Real had Remiro and Sergio as starters, with Soler also in the lineup. The defense was reinforced by the incorporation of Sarr and the absence of Aramburu, who had covered Marín. Despite the alterations, the Basque defense managed to contain Deportivo's goal attempts at critical moments, although it showed a certain fragility against the attacks of Nsongo and Luismi.
The final result, although unexpected, allows Real Sociedad to advance in the table and get closer to its first European place in 29 months. The victory is perceived more as a relief than a celebration, but it undoubtedly reinforces the team's credibility in the season. The next challenge will be to maintain this stability and continue with the search for European qualification, while Deportivo will have to analyze the lessons learned in this match.