VILLARREAL – REAL SOCIEDAD 1-2:
Unai Emery and his Euro-merited Villarreal team sniffed at a raw final place in the Champions League this spring.
The yellow-clad managed to do this after winning the Europa League final against Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Manchester United in Gdansk, Poland last summer.
On Sunday, Alexander Sørloth and Real Sociedad turned the match away from the witty away match against Villarreal in the second half. Sørloth did not score, but was heavily involved just before the winning goal in the 73rd minute.
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The 1-2 loss on their own turf means that Villarreal at best settle for games in the third-ranked European Cup, Conference League, from the autumn.
The Real Sociedad victory at the Estadio de la Cerámica makes it impossible for Emery and company to bring in Sørloth’s team in sixth place.
– The facial expression of Emery, that says it all, pointed out TV 2 commentator Robin Grov when the match was well into nine long extra minutes.
Well-known architect
The winning goal of “La Real” with not unknown David Silva (36) as the creative force behind the attack. Silva was the architect for Real Sociedad also a little earlier, when he assisted Alexander Isak with a smart post in front of the equalizer to 1-1.
When the decision was made, the former Manchester City star came with a new pass to goal scorer Isak on the right.
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The Swede hit so flat inwards against striker Sørloth. Trøndelag then fought in front of both Juan Foyth and star goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, but did not get quite right to the ball.
The post instead hit the bouncing Villarreal defender Foyth, before it spun up in the air. Then Martin Zubimendi could simply place the lead goal over a low-lying Rulli.
VAR controversies
The winning goal came not long after referee Pablo Gonzalez first handed a penalty to Villarreal in a situation with Étienne Capoué at the opposite end of the pitch.
However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. The referee had no doubts and he gave a penalty in favor of VAR.
There were no more goals in Villarreal, which means that the sixth place is secured for coach Imanol Alguacil and his Real Sociedad.
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That position guarantees a place in the Europa League because Copa del Rey winner Real Betis also completes the La Liga season as either number five or six on the table.
The battle for third place in the Spanish top division is still open. Fourth-placed Sevilla and Youssef En-Nesyri equalized to 1-1 five minutes before full time in the settlement away against table trees Atlético Madrid.
Midfielder José María Giménez scored the leading goal for Atlético after half an hour of play at Wanda Metropolitano. One point separates the two teams before the last round of play.
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