The Txuri-urdin (white and blue, in Basque) started strong with a goal from Alexander Sorloth (25e) and a gem from Takefusa Kubo, who obliterated a defender from a small bridge before adjusting Unai Simon (37e).
Athletic Bilbao closed the gap in stride thanks to Oihan Sancet, whose shot was not correctly deflected by Alex Remiro (40e), but Basque captain Mikel Oyarzabal sealed victory from the penalty spot (63e).
After the red card inflicted on Yeray Alvarez for having mowed down Kubo in the area in the position of last defender (60th), Oyarzabal, who had just replaced Sorloth (out injured in the right foot in the 49th), thus scored his first goal since his serious left knee injury ten months ago.
With this important success, Real Sociedad continues its series: the Donostia club has not lost a La Liga match since October 30 against Betis, and remains on five victories in all competitions.
Athletic, for the moment, is in 8th place, a small point from the qualifying places for European competitions.
Seville, in the red
In the other matches of the day, Osasuna won 1-0 against Mallorca, Rayo Vallecano continued to close in on Europe with a narrow 1-0 win at Valladolid, and Girona surprised the day, coming back from a one-goal deficit to win 2-1 against Sevilla FC.
For Loïc Badé’s first, Jorge Sampaoli’s men took the lead early in the match thanks to a goal from the 13the minute from the other Frenchman Tanguy Nianzou, who headed in a free kick from Ivan Rakitic. But the Catalans equalized after the break thanks to Cristhian Stuani (46e), and even passed in front at the end of the match thanks to a lob in finesse signed Yangel Herrera (88e).
