Deportivo Alavés, with a goal from Toni Martínez fifteen minutes from the end, completed the comeback in the first Basque derby of the season against Real Sociedad, who suffered from the inferiority they found themselves in after half an hour of play, when Mikel Oyarzábal was shown the red card and sent off.
Oyarzábal was sent off after a foul on Uruguayan Carlos Benavídez at the request of the VAR. Although Imanol Alguacil’s team recovered and took the lead through Brais Méndez, a penalty converted by Asier Villalibre in the first-half stoppage time put the game back on track for the visitors.
The match started very well for the home team, with a counterattack that left Mikel Oyarzabal alone in front of Antonio Sivera, although an attentive Abdel Abqar got his foot out in time to deflect the shot.
Something that did not disappoint Alavés one bit, as they immediately had two very good chances, both from corner kicks by Carlos Vicente onto the heads of Adrián Pica and Asier Villalibre, although both shots were heroically stopped by Álex Remiro.
After the first 15 minutes, the match slowed down until Real captain Oyarzabal was controversially sent off after a VAR review.
With one less player on the pitch for the remaining 60 minutes, Imanol Alguacil’s team did not flinch in the slightest, and in the next play, an exquisite low cross from Sergio Gómez connected with a mischievous Brais Méndez who scored the goal with ease.
The Babazorro team tried without success until just before the break, when Sánchez Martínez, the star of the night, blew a penalty in favour of the visitors, one that Asier Villalibre converted.
Upon returning from the changing rooms, both teams came out with the clear idea of scoring that goal that would put them ahead on the scoreboard, with an initial attempt by Jon Martín with a header from a corner and then a shot by Vicente that was well saved by Remiro.
Which turned out to be a mirage, as the actual pace seen afterwards made it clear that both teams were looking for a game where control reigned.
What’s more, the next dangerous play came in the 73rd minute, when Toni Martínez took advantage of a poor control by Igor Zubeldia in his own half to steal the ball and ride towards the rival goal, although a saving hand from Remiro deflected the ball onto the post which spat the ball out.
Something that seems to have encouraged the Babazorros, since a few minutes later, the newly entered Toni Martínez took advantage of a great assist from Carlos Vicente to get away from Zubeldia and score 1-2.
Real Madrid, desperate and outnumbered, tried to attack in any way they could, something that could have been counterproductive, since in a counterattack, Kike García could have scored again, but Zubeldia was able to prevent it.
There was no time for more and the Babazorro team took a well-deserved victory back to Vitoria. Alavés is now eighth with four points, while Real Madrid falls to 12th place in the table with the three points they already had.
— Technical sheet:
1 – Royal Society: Remiro; Traoré, Zubeldia (Olasagasti, m.81), Pacheco (Jon Martin, m.46), Javi Lopez; Zubimendi, Sergio Gómez (Marín, m.81), Brais Méndez (Turrientes, m.81); Kubo, Becker’s Church (Sadiq, m.66).
2 – Sports Also: Severe; Novoa, Abqar, Pica, Diarra (Manu Sánchez, m.63); Guevara, Protesoni (Stoickhov, m.46), Guridi; Vicente (Blanco, m.90+1), Villalibre (Kike García, m.63) and Rebbach (Toni Martinez, m.70).
Goals: 1-0, m.32: Brais Mendez; 1-1, m.45+5: Villalibre (p.); 1-2, m.77: Toni Martinez.
Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez (Murcia Committee). He sent off Mikel Oyarzábal with a straight red card (m.29). He cautioned Pacheco (15), Zubeldia (36), Kubo (90+6) and Jon Martín (90+7) for Real Sociedad; and Stoickhov (48), Rebbach (49), Sivera (90) and Manu Sánchez (90+6) for Deportivo Alavés.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the third round of LaLiga EA Sports played at the Reale Arena in front of 32,220 spectators. Before the kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed for the death of former Real Sociedad player José Antonio Urtiaga.
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