A dull Real Sociedad can with Celta

The team from San Sebastian suffered until the end to keep their seventh consecutive victory between the League and the Europa League. He hardly had the ball but he knew how to exploit the defensive fragility of his rival set pieces to extend his idyll with the celestial stadium.

In the first part, very little real time was played despite the eight minutes added due to the constant interruptions. The match was intended to be an open one, with an exchange of blows, but it was a tactical battle.

Coudet, who has never beaten Imanol, ordered his players put pressure on the rival field to annul the most creative footballers of the Realand the tactic worked wonders for him despite the fact that Real Sociedad hit him on his first approach.

It was in the 30th minute, after a poor clearance by Gabri Veiga from the ground. The ball fell at the feet of the txuri-urdin captain on the edge of the area. Illarra accommodated his body, hit him with his left foot and placed the ball close to the short post, making Agustín Marchesín’s stretch useless.

The blow, undeserved, could have been even greater for the sky-blue team because four minutes later, after a great pass into space by Diego Rico, Sorloth beat central defender Aidoo in speed to plant himself in the Galician area but his shot crashed into the side net.

The Celta did not change his script, with the lines together in defense and clinging to the creativity of Gabri Veiga. The youth squad shone again in the construction of the game. In attack, Norwegian striker Larsen was a nightmare for the centre-backs. The young celestial promise is still unmarked, but his work is tireless.

The equalizing goal came after a monumental error by Zubimendi. In the construction of the game, on the edge of his area, he gave the ball to Iago Aspas, and the Galician striker did not miss the gift to beat Remiro.

He made a move after passing through the changing rooms Imanol Aguacil. He introduced Mikel Merino for the striker Illarra, who had seen a card in the first half. And your team punished Celta’s defensive fragility with a set piece very soon.

The Zubeldia’s goal came after a corner kick that Merino forced with a cross shot that Marchesín deflected and Javi Galán, threatened by Kubo, later sent for a corner. Brais Méndez executed it at the second post, and there the Basque center-back, free of a mark, punished Celta’s defensive imbalance.

Coudet’s team had to row again. He had a little over half an hour left. The Argentine coach sought greater mordant with Carles Pérez, and the former Roma soccer player reactivated his team. His was the best celestial chance, but Remiro denied him the tie with a great one-handed save.

Celta continued attacking, already with three forwards on the field -Aspas, Larsen and Paciencia-, but Real Sociedad pulled ex officio to preserve a victory of merit in Vigo.