Real Sociedad beat Levante 2-1 to keep their La Liga push alive

Real Sociedad made the fast start that decided this one, taking the lead through Orri Steinn Óskarsson in the 6th minute and restoring it through Beñat Turrientes in the 27th after Levante had levelled. The 1-2 win at Anoeta leaves Real Sociedad on 16 points in fifth place, with four wins from their last five league matches behind them.

The first-half burst

Óskarsson's finish gave Real Sociedad immediate control, and Turrientes made sure the equaliser did not settle the game for long. Nacho Pérez had drawn Levante level in the 23rd minute, but the response came four minutes later, and that was the decisive spell.

Pellegrino Matarazzo said after the game, through Estadio Deportivo, in comments translated from Spanish: "Is total football the right word? I would say we are rather complete, a team oriented toward solutions and with a lot of energy". The performance fit that description. Real Sociedad did not run away with it, but they kept the pace high enough to stay in front when the match needed another answer.

What the result means for both sides

The win keeps Real Sociedad fifth, and Óskarsson's early goal was his third in La Liga this season. Gonçalo Guedes was also involved in the attacking movement that mattered, and Real Sociedad's recent run suggests the points total is not a fluke.

Levante leave Anoeta in 14th with 10 points, and the frustration is obvious enough. They found the equaliser, but they did not turn that into a second spell of pressure strong enough to change the result, and Real Sociedad had several chances to extend their lead before the final whistle.

The scoreline says enough about the gap between control and comfort. Real Sociedad got both the early lead and the quick reply they needed, and they head into the next league round with 16 points intact and fifth place still theirs.