MADRID, 15 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad beat Cádiz (2-0) this Friday at the start of matchday 29 of LaLiga EA Sports to win again at the Reale Arena almost four months later, lowering the self-esteem of an Andalusian team that was seeking to escape relegation.
Imanol Alguacil’s men redeemed themselves in front of their fans after the eliminations in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, and added three points to defend sixth place in European positions. Two heels from Mikel Oyarzabal were the assists for the goals of Mikel Merino and Arsen Zakharyan, one in each half.
Cádiz, who came with full faith after beating Atlético de Madrid (2-0) in the last round, putting an end to 23 rounds without winning, saw their attempt to take off stopped. Manuel Pellegrino’s men came closer in isolated plays but without aim, against a Real that was more successful and in control of possession.
Without the vertigo option, Cádiz went to Anoeta in search of three points with which to escape relegation, but Real soon confirmed that it was a serious obstacle. The Basque team, with the extra motivation of having gone almost four months without winning at home, had control and forgave the best chances for something more than a 1-0.
After 45 minutes, Mikel Merino only scored one goal around the half-hour mark, in a corner kick that caught the yellow defense off guard. Cádiz conceded more than necessary, since Becker had a couple of very clear chances and Oyarzabal, in a visitor’s gift, forgave a clear one-on-one to score the second. Le Normand also made it 2-0 with a header that went just wide.
The Andalusians had no choice but to look at the rival goal, although for many minutes it was impossible. With the goal against, Juanmi, protagonist against Atlético, finished assuming the responsibility of offering himself everywhere and driving the ball into dangerous territory. Despite Maxi Gómez’s injury, Chris Ramos came in with a couple of shots, Robert Navarro had another and Juanmi himself was close to the best.
They were half chances, but Pellegrino’s men showed the ability to get in the ‘txuri-urdin’ area, as Christian Kouamé managed after the restart. La Real tried to manage the game with possession, but they could not allow mistakes. That is where Cádiz grew up and claimed the red card from Zubeldia, but an offside seen in the VAR perhaps saved the defender.
Ledesma had saved a good shot from Merino before and Navarro, against his team, shot from distance again for Cádiz. In the midst of that uncertainty, a certain life for Cádiz, Brais Méndez put the ball in the area and Oyarzabal, with another backheel, sent it to Zakharyan at the far post. The game ended there, with the Andalusians one more day marking the relegation zone.