La Liga Update: Real Sociedad Leapfrog Athletic Bilbao to Claim 2nd Spot with 2-0 Win at Espanyol
Real Sociedad continued their impressive form in the 2022-23 La Liga season, pulling off a convincing 2-0 victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday. The win sees the Basque side leapfrog Athletic Bilbao and move up to 2nd place in the league table, just four points behind leaders Barcelona.
Miku, the Sociedad striker, proved to be the difference-maker once again, netting both goals on a sunny afternoon in the Catalonian capital. The 28-year-old has now scored 12 goals in his last 13 games, further cementing his status as one of the top strikers in La Liga.
Espanyol started the match looking to snap a five-game winless streak, but it was Sociedad who created the first real chances. Miku nearly opened the scoring in the 20th minute, but his powerful header was saved by Espanyol goalkeeper Alfonso Sotil.
Sociedad’s pressure finally paid off in the 35th minute, as Miku broke the deadlock with a clinical long-range strike. The Brazilian international collected a pass on the edge of the box, took a touch, and unleashed a low-driven shot that flew into the bottom corner of the net.
The visitors continued to push for a second goal, and they finally doubled their advantage just before halftime. A well-worked team move saw Martin Merquelanz play a one-two with Alex Remiro, and the midfielder’s low shot found its way past Sotil and into the net.
Espanyol struggled to create clear-cut chances in the second half, as Sociedad’s defense held firm to secure a well-deserved clean sheet. The win extends Sociedad’s unbeaten run to six games, and they will be looking to maintain their momentum in the coming weeks.
"Today was a big three points for us, but we know there’s still a lot of work to do if we want to stay in the top two," said Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil in a post-match interview. "We’re proud of our players, who have shown great spirit and determination all season. We’ll keep pushing to the end of the season."
Real Sociedad’s win is a significant boost to their top-four hopes, as they aim to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League. The Basque side will look to maintain their form when they face Athletic Bilbao in a highly-anticipated derby match on February 26.
For Espanyol, the loss sees them slip to 18th place in the table, just three points above the relegation zone. The Periquitos will need to regroup and rediscover their form if they hope to avoid a tough relegation battle in the coming months.