Real Sociedad secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Espanyol in their 2024-25 La Liga clash, thanks to a late goal from Takefusa Kubo. The match, held at the RCDE Stadium, was a tense affair with both teams struggling to find the back of the net until the decisive moment in the 80th minute.
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad Lineups and Substitutes
Espanyol (4-4-2):
- Joan García (GK)
- Carlos Romero
- Leandro Cabrera
- Marash Kumbulla
- Omar El Hilali
- Irvin Cardona (68′ Brian Oliván)
- José Gragera (83′ Antoniu Roca)
- Alex Král
- Jofre Carreras (83′ Álvaro Aguado)
- Javi Puado
- Alejo Véliz (87′ Pere Milla)
Substitutes Not Used:
11. Pere Milla
12. Álvaro Tejero
14. Brian Oliván
31. Antoniu Roca
Real Sociedad (4-3-3):
- Álex Remiro (GK)
- Javi López
- Jon Pacheco
- Aritz Elustondo
- Hamari Traoré (83′ Jon Aramburu)
- Martín Zubimendi
- Brais Méndez (66′ Jon Olasagasti)
- Beñat Turrientes (67′ Takefusa Kubo)
- Sheraldo Becker (86′ Pablo Marín)
- Mikel Oyarzabal (67′ Umar Sadiq)
- Sergio Gómez
Substitutes Not Used:
16. Jon Aramburu
18. Pablo Marín
19. Jon Olasagasti
20. Umar Sadiq
21. Takefusa Kubo
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad Half Time: Stalemate with Few Chances
The first half was a closely contested battle with neither side managing to break the deadlock. Espanyol, under pressure to gain their first points of the season, had 34.2% possession but could only muster a few half-chances. Real Sociedad, on the other hand, dominated possession with 65.8% but also struggled to convert that into clear opportunities. Both teams went into the break with the scoreline still at 0-0.
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad Full Time: Kubo’s Late Heroics
The second half saw an increase in intensity as both teams pushed for a breakthrough. Espanyol had several opportunities to score, but Real Sociedad’s defense held firm. The match seemed destined for a draw until the 80th minute when Takefusa Kubo broke the deadlock. Assisted by Hamari Traoré, Kubo’s left-footed strike from the right side of the box found the top left corner, giving Real Sociedad a crucial lead.
Espanyol tried to respond in the final minutes, but their efforts were thwarted by a resilient Real Sociedad defense. The match ended with a narrow 1-0 victory for the visitors.
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad Stats And Full-Time Summary
Full-Time Score: Espanyol 0-1 Real Sociedad
Goal: Takefusa Kubo (80’)
Key Match Stats:
- Possession: Espanyol 34.2% – 65.8% Real Sociedad
- Shots on Goal: Espanyol 4 – 3 Real Sociedad
- Shot Attempts: Espanyol 13 – 8 Real Sociedad
- Fouls: Espanyol 14 – 18 Real Sociedad
- Yellow Cards: Espanyol 2 – 2 Real Sociedad
- Red Cards: Espanyol 0 – 0 Real Sociedad
- Corner Kicks: Espanyol 7 – 4 Real Sociedad
- Saves: Espanyol 2 – 3 Real Sociedad
Espanyol vs Real Sociedad Foul and Discipline Summary
The match saw a total of 32 fouls, with Espanyol committing 14 and Real Sociedad 18. Each team received two yellow cards, but no red cards were issued. The intensity of the game was evident as both sides fought hard for every ball, leading to several stoppages and free kicks.
Real Sociedad’s late surge and Kubo’s precise finish were enough to secure all three points in this La Liga encounter. Espanyol will be disappointed to come away with nothing after a valiant effort, particularly in the second half. This result leaves Espanyol still searching for their first points of the season, while Real Sociedad will look to build on this victory in their upcoming fixtures.
