Real Sociedad Make Hard Work of It but Clinch Dramatic Win Over Deportivo La Coruña

Real Sociedad secured a dramatic 3-2 home victory over Deportivo La Coruña in Round 8 of La Liga. Everything seemed to be plain sailing for the hosts in the opening hour after goals from Jon Martín (29'), Arsen Zakharyan (34'), and Gonçalo Guedes (54') gave them a comfortable cushion. Mario Soriano pulled one back in the 61st minute before Pablo Marín was sent off just five minutes later, reducing the Basque side to ten men. In the 69th minute, Yeremay Hernández converted from the penalty spot to cut the deficit to just one goal, but the visitors were unable to salvage a point. Numerical parity was restored in the final minute of normal time when Deportivo substitute Lorenzo Amatucci was also shown a red card. It was a crucial triumph for Pellegrino Matarazzo's men, who had won just two of their previous nine fixtures at the Anoeta.

The visitors could have broken the deadlock in the opening minutes, but Álex Remiro did well to keep out an effort from Billel M'Barek Nsongo. Deportivo dominated proceedings for much of the first half-hour. However, the momentum shifted in the 29th minute when a well-worked short corner led to a cross to the far post, where Jon Martín rifled home a powerful strike. Depor's troubles mounted moments later as Arsen Zakharyan collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled a low, left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Both sides traded chances before the interval, with Remiro demonstrating his class to tip a deflected header over the crossbar.

The second half continued to provide end-to-end, dynamic action, but Sociedad struck again when Gonçalo Guedes outpaced the opposition backline and finished emphatically. Mario Soriano pulled one back shortly after, and only five minutes later Pablo Marín received his marching orders for bringing down a through runner, allowing Yeremay Hernández to slot home the resulting spot-kick. Deportivo piled on the pressure in the closing stages, forcing Remiro into several vital interventions to preserve the lead. In the 90th minute, parity in numbers was restored when Lorenzo Amatucci was sent off.

The victory brought an end to Deportivo La Coruña's nine-match unbeaten run on the road and lifted Real Sociedad up to sixth place. The visitors remain eighth, three points behind.