Analysis The numbers behind the result
Real Sociedad's superior attack edges Espanyol in tight contest
Real Sociedad deserved their victory based on the balance of play, as their xG of 1.66 significantly outperformed Espanyol's 0.76, aligning closely with the 2-1 scoreline. They dominated shot volume, with 17 total attempts (10 on target) to Espanyol's 11 (3 on target), and created higher-quality chances — 13 of their shots came from inside the box compared to Espanyol's 6, reflected in their superior xG. Despite near-even possession (51% vs 49%), La Real's attack was consistently more threatening.
Sociedad's early tempo set the tone, with Ander Barrenetxea converting Mikel Oyarzabal's assist in the 4th minute. Though Roberto Fernández levelled just before half-time, Orri Oskarsson's 61st-minute winner (also assisted by Oyarzabal) proved decisive. Oyarzabal's dual creativity (2 assists) was pivotal, while Espanyol's limited threat is starkly captured by their mere 3 shots on target — their only clear attacking contribution was Fernández's clinical finish from one of those attempts. The key stat: Sociedad's 7 corners to Espanyol's 3 underlined their sustained pressure in advanced areas.