Real Sociedad swept aside Malaga 5-2 at La Rosaleda as the home crowd honoured Mikel Oyarzabal, who marked the tribute with a clinical brace in an enthralling encounter.
Malaga and Real Sociedad served up a pulsating goal-fest for the neutrals, but to the dismay of the home faithful, top-flight pedigree ultimately told. Every time the hosts mounted a fightback, Real Sociedad moved up another gear to pull clear of the Costa del Sol outfit, who remain a shadow of the sharp, enterprising side that secured promotion from the second tier. The top flight is an unforgiving arena, however, and Malaga are finding it desperately hard to adapt to the pace of the division. Juanfran Funes’ men remain winless, while La Real comfortably broke into the European berths.
Malaga
Malaga remain winless in Primera Division, deepening their plight at the foot of the table after spending the entire contest playing catch-up against vastly superior opposition. The hosts showed far more bite after the interval, rekindling hope through stunning strikes from Adrian Nino and Pablo Martinez, yet their defensive frailties quickly resurfaced. The rearguard folded under the slightest pressure, undone in individual duels and by simple deliveries into the penalty area alike. Malaga need an urgent remedy; four points from nine matchdays is a dire return.
Real Sociedad
The visitors required barely three minutes to break the deadlock courtesy of a diagonal burst and strike from Kubo that found the net via a wicked deflection. Capitalising ruthlessly on Malaga’s mistakes was all Real Sociedad needed to do, doubling their tally through Oskarsson, who pounced after Adrian Nino surrendered possession under pressure inside his own half. The forward had already rattled the woodwork moments earlier. Two blistering strikes from Mikel Oyarzabal in under ten second-half minutes alongside Guedes’ decisive strike in the 73rd minute sealed all three points for Real Sociedad, hoisting them up to fifth place pending Sevilla’s upcoming fixture.
