An impressive week for Spanish teams in Europe significantly increased the chances of LaLiga gaining an extra UEFA Champions League place, but top-four-bound Villarreal made a mockery of Sociedad’s hopes of finishing fifth with three quickfire goals early on.
Always one to lead by example, Villarreal icon Gerard Moreno required just nine minutes to open the scoring, registering his eighth league goal of the season when heading in via Santi Comesana’s cleverly flicked ball from a near-post corner.
Sociedad looked nothing like the UCL side they could still be next term, and Gerard then played a role in Villarreal’s second, seeing his strike half-saved before it broke kindly for Georges Mikautadze to slot into the awaiting net.
With confidence now oozing through them, the Yellow Submarine soon demonstrated why they are one of Spain’s best counter-attacking sides, going back to front at lightning speed to create an opening for Nicolas Pepe, who worked his way in to fire past a helpless Alex Remiro with the aid of a wicked deflection.
Luiz Junior prevented the visitors from reducing the deficit on the stroke of half-time, thwarting Mikel Oyarzabal from a dangerous one-on-one situation, just seconds after Pepe had rattled the woodwork at the opposite end of the pitch.
However, the Villarreal goalkeeper was quickly brought down to earth after the restart, making the rash decision to come for a cross that was headed away by Renato Veiga, leaving the goal unguarded for half-time substitute Luka Sucic to steer home his deflected strike.
Mikautadze should have restored the home side’s three-goal buffer just past the 70th minute, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, he sent his shot harmlessly wide of the far post.
The Georgia international would have then breathed a sigh of relief when Orri Oskarsson had a goal chalked off for offside minutes later, which effectively ended any hopes of a Real Sociedad fightback.
The defeat leaves Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side in seventh spot and six points adrift of fifth spot, while the hosts leapfrog Atletico Madrid into third position for now.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal)
