Real Sociedad showcased its dominance with a convincing 3-0 victory over CD Leganés at the Reale Arena, putting them just one point away from the sixth position in La Liga. The notable performance from the Donostiarra side was propelled by goals from Arsen Zakharyan, Takefusa Kubo, and Jon Ander Olasagasti, cementing their aspirations for European competition.
The match started on indifferent notes for both teams, but it didn't take long for Real Sociedad to assert their authority. Just twelve minutes in, Zakharyan opened the scoring with a remarkable right-footed shot from the edge of the area, leaving Leganés' goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic no chance. Motivated by this early breakthrough, Zakharyan attempted to double the tally shortly after, firing another long-range effort, narrowly missing the target.
Despite trailing, Leganés tried to regroup with Juan Cruz leading one of their rare forays forward, which was thwarted by Real's stubborn defense. Zakharyan continued to keep the pressure on with several attempts on goal, nearly finding the net again with another strike just before halftime.
Returning from the break, the second half saw Kubo prove to be the game-changer. Receiving the ball on the right wing, he navigated around Juan Cruz, driving forward before placing the ball beyond Dmitrovic’s reach to extend Real’s lead to two goals.
Nearly pulling one back, Leganés found themselves thwarted multiple times by goalie Álex Remiro, who denied Dani Raba's clear shot. The visitors wrestled with the buoyant Real, pushing for a goal but lacking precision as Remiro's safe hands quelled their chances.
Real sealed their victory with another superb goal from Olasagasti, who struck from close range following a corner. His volley at the 80th minute sent the home crowd of 22,533 fans roaring as the home side not only bagged three points but showcased their attacking prowess.
This result is pivotal for Real Sociedad, who are now firmly within one point of the European spots following their previous matches, putting them back on track after recent slips. Acknowledging their performance, head coach Imanol Alguacil praised his players, stating, "I congratulate the players for responding again with changes." The coach echoed sentiments of the challenge of maintaining consistency across the league.
On the contrary, the defeat weighed heavy on Leganés, with coach Borja Jiménez expressing dissatisfaction over his team’s inability to construct solid gameplay. “We did very badly in the first half, but tried to correct it in the second and quickly conceded again,” he lamented. His focus now turns to improving their defense as they eye the challenge of avoiding relegation.
Defensively, Leganés failed to contain their opponent’s creative flair, which was evident as Zakharyan enjoyed liberty to cut through key areas with little resistance. With matches swiftly passing, time is running out for the Pepineros to find their form as they seek to grow stronger to escape the lurking relegation threat.
Reflecting on the outcomes, Álex Remiro, the Real Sociedad goalkeeper, noted, “We went many games without keeping our goal clean, which was one of our hallmarks.” The comments strike at the heart of the pressing issue needing addressing as teams face off every match day.
Having faced tough competition, both teams have different roads to navigate for their season's ambitions. With this match now behind them, all eyes will turn toward their respective leagues, for any slip-ups could carry heavier consequences moving forward.
To keep moving forward, both squads will require adaptation and strategically recalibrated tactics to cope with opponents and potential victories.
This match encapsulated the highs and lows of football—the jubilation from Real Sociedad's fans contrasted against the heartache of Leganés supporters. The road to success may well demand patience, determination, and adaptability as these clubs chart their path through the remaining fixtures of the season.