Txuri-urdin Champions League dream is back on track
It was a fantastic jornada for Real Sociedad, as they saw their grip on fourth spot strengthened.
When Isi Palazón opened the scoring for Rayo Vallecano at the Reale Arena, there was a sense of déjà vu. Real Sociedad fans arrived at the ground buoyant and with renewed optimism having seen Real Betis lose an hour down the road in Pamplona.
Beat Rayo at home and they would have a reinforced hold on the fourth and final Champions League spot. Atlético’s impressive form in 2023 has all but secured them the third spot behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, so there is effectively a three-team shootout for the last ticket to the pinnacle of European club football.
Things were not going according to plan. After Jon Pacheco’s heavy touch gifted the ball away, Rayo’s bald Beckham had smashed the ball into the net and former-Athletic player Andoni Iraola was revelling in the role of stymie-in-chief. Following defeat at San Mamés last weekend, consecutive defeats would have been a significant blow to Imanol’s side.
Thankfully for those of a blue-and-white persuasion, they hit back almost immediately. Aihen Muñoz’s cross from the left was met by Alexander Sørloth, who powered it into the bottom corner. It was the Norweigan’s tenth goal of the season in LaLiga and it ended his drought. He hadn’t scored since February 13th, so this was a timely intervention.
Since their exit in the Copa del Rey at Camp Nou at the end of January, Imanol’s side had only won three of 13 in all competitions, knocked out of Europe without scoring in the process. So there was inevitably some nerves around the stadium as they struggled to find the all-important winner.
It finally arrived in the closing stages. Another cross into the box, and substitute Carlos Fernández appeared to head it back across goal, but it cannoned off Florian Lejeune and into the net. Cue delirium in the stands. La Real had turned it around and made it three home wins on the bounce.
“When the game got uglier, more out of drive and heart than from football, we managed to win and have 54 points with eight games to go.” — Imanol valued his side’s gritty qualities.
Wins are always welcome but they mean more when it is a capitalisation of a direct rival slipping up. Added to the mixing pot is the fact that on Tuesday night, La Real head to Seville to take on Real Betis. Had results gone differently on Saturday, they could have been level on points ahead of that game. As it is, they are six points clear, and should they avoid defeat they will be firm favourites to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2013. If they can eke out a victory (as Betis did to them in the reverse fixture, a real smash and grab) they would open up a nine-point margin, chasmic with only seven further rounds remaining. All the pressure will be on Betis and that can play into La Real’s hands.
To cap off a brilliant weekend, the Sunday night partidazo went the way La Real fans hoped for too. Youssef En-Nesyri soared above the defenders to give Sevilla a late, late win over Villarreal, a result which leaves Quique Setién’s side seven points off the pace after back-to-back defeats against teams in the bottom half.
Qualification is by no means a done deal, however. The Imanoleta has to negotiate probably the trickiest run-in of any of the European hopefuls. As well as the trip to Betis, they still have to visit Camp Nou and the Metropolitano, while playing host to Real Madrid and then Sevilla on the final day. There are advantageous factors to consider though. The Real Madrid game comes directly before the Copa del Rey final, while games against Atleti and Sevilla could already be dead rubbers by Matchdays 37 and 38.
With eight games to go, Real Sociedad find themselves in pole position. The sprint for the finish will have its challenges, but the reward at the finish line outweighs all of that.