Real Sociedad edged a five-goal thriller at the Reale Arena on Sunday night, beating RC Deportivo 3-2 in a La Liga contest that swung one way, then the other, before the hosts finally found a late winner. Mikel Oyarzabal and Takefusa Kubo had given the Basque side a comfortable first-half cushion, only for the visitors to roar back after the break and level the score with twenty minutes remaining.

It took a moment of individual quality to settle it, and it arrived six minutes from time to send a raucous home crowd home happy. For Deportivo, it was a gallant display and a cruel result — proof that the newly promoted side can compete in Spain's top flight, but also a reminder of how punishing the division can be.

Match Overview

Real Sociedad started with the authority of a team that has spent most of the last decade in and around European qualification. They monopolised the ball in the opening half hour, moved Deportivo's midfield block from side to side and created their first clear opening inside ten minutes.

Deportivo's game plan was clear: sit compact, defend the central corridor and break at speed through the wide areas. It worked well after the restart, when their pressing line moved higher and the match briefly became a genuine end-to-end affair.

Key Moments

• 12th minute — 1-0: Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after a handball was spotted inside the area.
• 33rd minute — 2-0: Kubo doubled the lead with a trademark finish, cutting in from the right onto his left foot and bending the ball into the far corner.
• 58th minute — 2-1: Deportivo halved the deficit when David Mella raced onto a long clearance and finished calmly one-on-one.
• 70th minute — 2-2: Mario Soriano struck from the edge of the box after a short corner was only half cleared, sparking wild celebrations in the away end.
• 84th minute — 3-2: Ander Barrenetxea restored the lead, arriving late at the far post to convert a deep cross and settle the contest.

Tactical Story

The first half was a controlled performance from the hosts. By pushing their full-backs high and asking the central midfielders to receive on the half-turn, Real Sociedad forced Deportivo into a deep, narrow shape and created repeated overloads in wide areas. The two goals came from exactly those patterns.

Things changed after half-time. Deportivo pushed their defensive line up by ten metres, began winning duels in midfield and found joy with direct passes into the channels. Both goals came from transitions rather than sustained possession, and for twenty minutes the visitors looked the more likely winners.

Real Sociedad's response was measured rather than frantic. They slowed the tempo, returned to shorter passing combinations and gradually pushed Deportivo back again — a mature piece of game management that ultimately produced the winning goal.

Standout Players

Oyarzabal was central to everything good the home side produced, linking midfield and attack and taking responsibility in the decisive moments. Kubo's goal was the highlight of the night for pure technique, and Sergio Gómez's delivery from the left caused problems all evening, including on the winning goal.

For Deportivo, Mella was electric on the break and Soriano's composure in front of goal underlined why the club's supporters believe survival is a realistic target. Their goalkeeper, busy throughout, made two excellent saves that kept the scoreline close in the first half.

Season Impact

The victory keeps Real Sociedad firmly in the conversation for European places, maintaining their strong home record and adding another three points to a campaign that is beginning to look genuinely promising. Winning tight matches — especially after surrendering a two-goal lead — is often the difference between a good season and a memorable one.

Deportivo leave with plenty of encouragement but nothing to show for it. Their attacking threat in transition suggests they will trouble more established sides at the Reale Arena and elsewhere, but conceding three goals on the road remains a concern that the coaching staff will need to address quickly if the club is to avoid a relegation scrap.