Real Sociedad bounce back from thrashing
After being mauled by Barcelona, Real Sociedad come from behind to defeat promoted Celta Vigo for first win of season.
A second-half double from Imanol Agirretxe saw Real Sociedad come from behind to beat newly promoted Celta Vigo 2-1 and record their first win of the La Liga season on Saturday.
Real Sociedad bounced back from their 5-1 mauling by Barcelona with Agirretxe hitting the back of the net on 53 and 60 minutes, after Celta surprisingly took the lead following the break through Quique De Lucas.
It was nothing more than the home side deserved after they wasted a host of first-half chances and hit the woodwork three times.
Real Sociedad looked to push forward from the start with an attacking formation that included the return of Carlos Vela and Agirretxe, and the Mexican Vela was causing danger virtually every time he surged down the left wing.
Inside the opening minutes he whipped in a cross that Agirretxe just failed to divert goalwards.
The hosts really should have taken the lead after 16 minutes when Agirretxe met a corner well but his header came back off the post and then Ion Ansotegi, with the goal gaping, saw his shot from close range clip the top of the crossbar.
Ahead of the game, the main news for Celta was the debut of Danish forward Michael Krohn-Delhi, but he and De Lucas on the other wing saw little of the ball.
Celta caused their first moment of worry for the home side on the half-hour mark when Ansotegi fouled Iago Aspas on the edge of the area, but Lucas’ free-kick hit the wall.
Moments later, Antoine Griezmann missed another opening for the home side with a shot that hit the woodwork and then his follow-up was blocked.
La Real were left stunned when De Lucas fired Celta into the lead after 49 minutes but it did not take them long to respond.
Agirretxe slotted home a Griezmann pass and then pounced inside the area as the ball bounced around following a cross from Vela.
Rayo go top provisionally
Later on Saturday, Rayo Vallecano beat Real Betis 2-1 to go top of the La Liga standings.
Rayo’s Brazilian-born teenager Leo, who turns 20 on Sunday, drove home the winner half an hour from time in Seville having set up Piti to score in the second minute before Jorge Molina levelled for Betis two minutes later.
“It’s a dream come true,” Leo told reporters.
“I just did what I know best, play football,” he added. “But we have to keep a clear head and keep working just as hard.”
Malaga and Real Mallorca played out a 1-1 draw which saw Juanmi come off the bench and rescue Malaga’s unbeaten start to the season. The Andalusian side held on for the draw, despite the late sending off of Eliseu for tangling with Mallorca midfielder Pina.
In the earlier kickoffs, Portugal forward Helder Postiga netted an 89th-minute winner for Real Zaragoza in a 2-1 win at Espanyol, who had Juan Albin sent off for a second yellow card five minutes after the break.
La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are in action on Sunday, having contested the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Thursday, with the Catalan side leading 3-2 ahead of the second leg at the Bernabeu.