Oyarzabal leads by example as La Real's captain fantastic defies the odds
Mikel Oyarzabal's brace secured a hard-fought victory against Celta Vigo despite playing with ten men, as Real Sociedad's resurgence under Matarazzo continues.
Real Sociedad’s talismanic captain delivers when it matters most as La Real overcome numerical disadvantage to claim vital three points.
Captain Fantastic
Mikel Oyarzabal continues to be worth his weight in gold for Real Sociedad. The skipper’s double against Celta Vigo secured a massive result for La Real, who played the entire second half with ten men. It’s the sort of victory that does wonders for team spirit, not just the league table.
The win moves the Basque outfit further away from the danger zone and adds to the growing belief that their season has turned a corner. For Oyarzabal personally, his tally now stands at an impressive 123 goals for the club - edging ever closer to the all-time scoring podium at the San Sebastian outfit.
Battling against the elements
This wasn’t just about overcoming Celta’s numerical advantage. The conditions at Reale Arena were proper filthy:
- Driving rain made the pitch slick and unpredictable
- Ball control became a lottery for both sides
- Every pass carried extra risk
Despite these challenges, La Real showed tremendous character to grind out the result. As Oyarzabal noted, it was “a victory to emerge much stronger” given the circumstances.
The Matarazzo effect
There’s no denying the positive impact Pellegrino Matarazzo has had since taking over the managerial reins. When asked about the German-American’s influence, Oyarzabal was quick to acknowledge the clarity of his ideas while also shouldering responsibility as a player.
Some have suggested Matarazzo has been riding his luck, but Oyarzabal wasn’t having any of that chat. The captain pointed to the daily work at Zubieta (the club’s training ground) as the real foundation for their improved form. It’s not about fortune - it’s about preparation meeting opportunity.
Derby day looms
With momentum building, thoughts inevitably turn to next Sunday’s Basque derby against Athletic Club at San Mamés. But Oyarzabal wasn’t ready to look ahead just yet, preferring to savour this hard-earned triumph first.
Still, you can bet your bottom dollar the lads will be well up for the short trip to Bilbao, looking to continue their impressive run under the new gaffer. If they can bottle the fighting spirit shown against Celta, Athletic will have their work cut out.