Only Real still wins in La Liga
With nine points, Real is the club in the top 5 European leagues that has won the most points from a losing position in the 2023-2024 season, equal to Liverpool. Real is also the first club to win nine points from a losing position in the first five matches in La Liga, since Zaragoza in the 2004-2005 season. Before defeating Sociedad, the royal team won against Almeria 3-1 and Getafe 2-1 in La Liga this season.
At the Bernabeu yesterday, Real faced many difficulties in the first half. In the 5th minute, from Takefusa Kubo's pass, Ander Barrenetxea shot two consecutive shots in the penalty area to beat goalkeeper Kepa, opening the score for Sociedad. Barrenetxea scored the third goal against Real - the best individual statistic against an opponent in La Liga.
Carlo Ancelotti and his team then had to rely on luck and Kepa's talent to not concede another goal in the first half. In the 11th minute, Kubo, a player who was on Real's payroll in the 2019-2022 period, went from the right side to the middle and curled his left foot to the far corner, putting the ball out of Kepa's reach. However, the goal was denied because Mikel Oyarzabal stood in an offside position and covered Kepa's eyes, even though he did not touch the ball. In the 29th minute, Kubo made a similar move, but this time Kepa flew to block it. Two minutes later, the Japanese midfielder also had a cross just in range for Mikel Merino to head in close range, but Kepa continued to save the home team.
The game suddenly reversed after halftime. At 41 seconds of the second half, Rodrygo overlapped to let Francisco Garcia run down and then released it back to the second line for Federico Valverde to finish with one touch and put the ball against the post into the net. The Uruguayan midfielder scored Real's second goal in 2023, after scoring against Osasuna in February, thereby ending a 16-match losing streak in La Liga.
In the 60th minute, Garcia continued to leave his mark with a just-in-range cross that allowed Joselu to jump high and head at an angle unmarked, leaving goalkeeper Alex Remiro rooted to the spot. At 24 years and 34 days old, Garcia is the youngest Real player to contribute two assists in a La Liga match, since Marcelo in the match against Mallorca in May 2012 (24 years and 1 day).
Overcoming Sociedad, Real continues to be the only club to maintain a winning streak in La Liga to return to the top. The army under coach Ancelotti currently has 15 points, two points more than Barca.
On September 20, Real will continue to play at home at the Bernabeu against Union Berlin in the opening round of Group C of the Champions League, then will be a guest of Atletico in the sixth round of La Liga on September 24.
