Alexander Sorloth and Takefusa Kubo converted a pair of goals before the break to lift Real Sociedad to a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the first Basque derby this season in the Spanish league.
Norwegian striker Sorloth strung together four games for the first time, scoring by sending a lobbed pass into the net, which he masterfully controlled before finishing off a goal after 25 minutes.
In moments of great San Sebastian dominance, the Japanese midfielder Kubo appeared at minute 37 with an incursion in which he headed into the area by tunneling his marker to find himself before goalkeeper Unai Simon, whom he beat with a shot that hit the post .
Oihan Sancet brought the visitors closer with a mid-height cross shot from inside the box on 40 minutes.
Mikel Oyarzabal sealed the victory from the penalty spot at 62, after referee Guillermo Cuadra signaled a foul on Kubo by Yeray Álvarez, who was sent off.
With their fourth consecutive victory, the txuri-urdin team consolidates the third position with 35 units, only surpassed by Barcelona (41) and Real Madrid (38), who had their duels rescheduled for the 17th day to play the Super Cup of Spain in Saudi Arabia.
Athletic Club strung together the third matchday without victory to stay in eighth position with just 26 units.
Real Sociedad’s victory in the Basque derby comes after Athletic Club won the match with a resounding 4-0 victory in San Mamés in their previous clash.
“We have been superior. I am happy with the support we have received and I think we are all in a good dynamic”, said Oyarzabal, who played for the third consecutive game, after missing the entire first part of the championship due to injury last season.
SEVILLE SUCCUMBS TO GIRONA
Cristhian Stuani and Yangel Herrera celebrated the goals with which Girona came from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 at home, which is stuck at the bottom of the table.
Tanguy Nianzou opened the scoring for the Andalusian team after 13 minutes. Stuani matched at 46 and Herrera sealed the victory for the Catalan team at 88.
The victory gives Girona some peace of mind by having 21 units to rank in 11th position.
Sevilla is in a compromised position by staying with 15 points in 17th place, but could end the day in the relegation zone if Cádiz or Espanyol reap wins in their matches.
OSASUNA WINS AGAIN
Osasuna ended a winless streak that lasted three games by beating Mallorca 1-0 with a goal from Aimar Oroz after 47 minutes.
The Navarrese team climbed to the seventh position with 27 points, while the team led by the Mexican strategist Javier Aguirre stagnated in the tenth place with 22.
In another result, Rayo Vallecano beat Valladolid 1-0 as a visitor with a goal from Isi Palazón at 65.
The whole of the community of Madrid is ninth with 26 units; Valladolid is 16th with 17.