Real Sociedad Hold On for Narrow Victory Over Celta Vigo

In a tightly contested affair, Real Sociedad emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Celta Vigo, but it was far from straightforward. The home side took the lead in the 17th minute through Mikel Oyarzabal's strike, but a controversial red card for Duje Ćaleta-Car just before halftime turned the game on its head.

Despite controlling 64% of possession and outshooting their opponents 17-10, Celta Vigo struggled to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Real Sociedad's defense held firm, limiting the visitors to just 4 shots on target compared to the home side's 4. The key tactical reason behind Real Sociedad's win was their compact defensive shape and disciplined pressing, which stifled Celta Vigo's attempts to break them down.

Celta Vigo's tactical failure was their inability to make the most of their extra man. With 57% of their shots coming from outside the box, they failed to penetrate the crowded Real Sociedad penalty area effectively. The away side's xG of 1.60 compared to Real Sociedad's 1.61 highlights their inability to translate their dominance into clear-cut chances.

In the end, Real Sociedad sealed the victory with late goals from Oyarzabal and Beñat Mendez, securing all three points despite being reduced to 10 men for the majority of the second half.