Real Sociedad vs Espanyol

Real Sociedad finally got their season moving with a 2-1 win over Espanyol at home, needing a fast start and a second-half response to hold off a stubborn visiting side that had arrived unbeaten in normal time this campaign. Ander Barrenetxea put the hosts ahead inside four minutes, finishing off a Mikel Oyarzabal assist, only for Roberto Fernandez to level for Espanyol right on the stroke of half-time, set up by Javier Hernandez. Orri Oskarsson restored the lead just after the hour, again teed up by Oyarzabal, who collected two assists and was applauded by the home crowd. Several players on both sides picked up yellow cards as the game got increasingly feisty late on, with Espanyol throwing on attackers in search of an equalizer that never came. The result gives Real Sociedad their first points of the season after opening with back-to-back defeats, while Espanyol suffer their first loss of the campaign after a promising start.