Real Sociedad imposes its greatest cup desire
The San Sebastian team beats again (1-2) a Celta that rotated a lot to become the first Copa del Rey semi-finalist
MADRID, 23 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Tuesday, Real Sociedad became the first semi-finalist of the Copa del Rey 2023-2024 by beating Celta 1-2, after a duel in which, to its solidity and effectiveness, it added greater ambition to advance in the competition against a rival that did not put all its best pieces on the board, was incisive up front and was trailing from almost the opening whistle.
The San Sebastian team is once again close to the cup dream four years after qualifying for a final that was played in 2021 due to the pandemic and that they beat Athletic Club. A serious game and making the most of his best options was enough for him to get rid of a rival, who stumbled again 72 hours after doing so in LaLiga EA Sports with the same stone.
Imanol Alguacil returned to his most usual eleven, with a debut for Sheraldo Becker, after the rotations that went well last Saturday in the same scenario, the opposite of Rafa Benítez who seemed to give priority to the League, giving rest to several theoretical starters. And like 72 hours before, the play turned out better again for the realistic coach, whose team put pressure on the locals very early.
Oyarzabal, just a minute into the game, cooled down the spirited Balaídos crowd with a close header after a cross from Merino and put the match in a scenario in which the 'txuri urdines' felt comfortable. The visitors, despite the advantage, smothered well with their pressure a Celta that was barely able to worry Remiro, whom he almost always saw from afar with Douvikas and Swedberg very isolated.
The San Sebastian team didn't scare Iván Villar too much either, but it did give more of a sense of danger. The 'celeste' goalkeeper gave a good hand to Merino to avoid a devastating 0-2 and the Navarrese midfielder could not connect in the best way, hindered by the coverage of Kevin Vázquez, a delivery from the right by a Becker who was active in the first 45 minutes.
The match moved without too many opportunities and always with the script set by Real Sociedad, whose worst news was the injury of another of its left backs, the Scottish Tierney due to an apparent muscle problem and in the same scenario where Aihen Muñoz said goodbye to the season last Saturday.
BECKER RELEASES IN HIS DEBUT
A close shot by André Silva that went over the crossbar and after two extensions by Merino and Zubeldia was the most notable thing before a break after which the two coaches moved their benches with Alguacil removing the Portuguese '9' to put in a player more on the wing like Zakharyan and Benítez, bringing in a regular starter like De la Torre for Miguel.
Celta came out more determined and was able to take control of the match against a rival who preferred to take a step back to save their precious loot and wait for a counterattack that they could almost see to seal the tie. Becker gave a first warning of this option in a play on the edge of the outside and with Kevin avoiding the 'pass of death' to Oyarzabal, but the second was definitive. The Suriname footballer started from his field to catch the local defense in a bad position and then not forgive Villar's certain doubts when it came to whether he would go out and bail or not.
The 0-2 was a blow for Benítez's team, who minutes before had brought in Mingueza and Aspas in search of finally shaking things up. Just after the realistic goal, the Vigo team was able to get into the game with two actions carried out by Moaña, but Swedberg's shot was taken almost under the post by Zubeldia and then Le Normand took the shot away from Douvikas.
Oyarzabal did not succeed with a good pass from Becker in his last good action of the clash to finish things off, but he was not missed by a Real team that was not spared some final suffering due to De la Torre's last goal that put an end to their unbeaten streak in the tournament, but it was insufficient for the 'celestials'.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: CELTA, 1 – REAL SOCIEDAD, 2 (0-1, at half-time).
–ALIGNMENTS.
RC CELTA: Iván Villar; Kevin (Mingueza, min.64), Starfelt, Domínguez, Ristic; Miguel (De la Torre, min.46), Jailson (Aspas, min.64), Tapia (Beltrán, min.72), Hugo Álvarez; Swedberg (Strand Larsen, min.78) and Douvikas.
REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Tierney (Elustondo, min.39); Becker (Sadiq, min.78), Merino, Zubimendi, Brais (Pacheco, min.78), Oyarzabal (Magunazelaya, min.90) and Silva (Zakharyan, min.46).
–GOALS.
0-1, minute 2. Oyarzabal.
0-2, minuto 66. Becker.
1-2, minute 92. De la Torre.
–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C. Riojano). He cautioned Douvikas (min.45+2), Núñez (min.74), Strand Larsen (min.93) and Ristic (min.94), for Celta, and Merino (min.65) and Magunazelaya (min.95 ), by the Royal Society.
— STADIUM: Abanca Balaídos. 20,903 viewers.