Oyarzabal's masterclass carries Real Sociedad with a man down
La Real's captain delivered another heroic performance, netting twice against Celta Vigo to secure victory despite Caleta-Car's red card at Anoeta.
Mikel Oyarzabal once again proved why he’s the heartbeat of Real Sociedad, delivering a match-winning brace against Celta Vigo that had nearly 30,000 fans at Anoeta rising to their feet in appreciation.
Captain Fantastic
On a rain-soaked pitch that would’ve troubled lesser players, Oyarzabal showed his football intelligence with a stunning opener. Rather than attempting to dribble into the box as he might normally do, the skipper opted for a powerful long-range effort that Radu couldn’t reach, perfectly placed into the keeper’s left post.
It was the kind of strike that separates the good from the great - a moment of clarity when conditions demanded something special.
Overcoming Adversity
Despite Oyarzabal’s pleas to the referee, La Real suffered a significant setback when Caleta-Car received his marching orders. Many sides would’ve crumbled, but with their captain leading from the front, the txuriurdin refused to buckle.
After Borja Iglesias levelled for Celta, Oyarzabal took matters into his own hands. With his team a man light, he somehow found space to approach the opposition box and unleashed another powerful left-footed strike to restore Real Sociedad’s lead at 2-1.
Making History
The significance of Oyarzabal’s contribution extends beyond this single match. The number 10 is rapidly approaching some significant milestones:
- Currently on 417 appearances for La Real, he’s just 10 games away from entering the club’s all-time top ten (Mikel Aramburu sits 10th with 427)
- His brace against Celta takes his goal tally to 123, closing in on Cholín Alcorta’s 128 and a place on the all-time scoring podium
When he was substituted with five minutes remaining, utterly spent from his efforts, the standing ovation told the story. While debates about the “best ever” at Real Sociedad might continue, few could argue that Oyarzabal has become the most decisive player in the club’s recent history.
As one fan put it while leaving Anoeta: “That lad’s worth his weight in Danny Blanchflowers, absolute class today.”