Guedes proving to be Real Sociedad's best signing in years
Portuguese winger Gonçalo Guedes has been in scintillating form for La Real, scoring his sixth league goal against Athletic Bilbao to cement his status as one of LaLiga's in-form players.
Real Sociedad’s summer acquisition of Gonçalo Guedes is looking like the shrewdest bit of business the Basque club has done in years, with the Portuguese winger continuing his purple patch at San Mamés.
Six and counting
Guedes bagged his sixth La Liga goal of the season against Athletic Bilbao, maintaining his remarkable run of scoring form. What’s particularly impressive is that all six strikes have come in the last 12 league matches, during which he’s transformed from squad player to absolute must-start.
The Portuguese has become undroppable for La Real, earning the trust of three different managers this season:
- Initially under Sergio Francisco
- Then interim boss Jon Ansotegi
- And now current gaffer Pellegrino Matarazzo
It’s quite the turnaround for a player who only started four of Real Sociedad’s first ten league matches, with fitness issues keeping him from showing his true quality early doors.
Crucial contributions
Since breaking into the team, Guedes has been absolutely crucial for La Real:
- Scored the winner in the Basque derby
- Helped secure victory at El Sadar against Osasuna
- Found the net in defeat against Girona
- Earned a point with his goal against Atlético Madrid
- Scored in the massive win over Barcelona
And now he’s added Athletic Bilbao to his list of victims. After seeing a decent header brilliantly saved by Unai Simón, Guedes wasn’t to be denied from the resulting corner, absolutely leathering one from distance that had the Athletic keeper well beaten for the opening goal just before half-time.
Mixed feelings
Guedes was substituted late on and had to watch from the bench as Athletic equalised and nearly completed a comeback. What could have been a fourth consecutive win for La Real ended up as just a point, though the Portuguese can still take pride in his personal performance.
He’s gone from strength to strength in San Sebastián and is now firmly established as one of LaLiga’s most in-form players. For a club that’s had a few transfer market disappointments in recent years, Guedes is proving to be the real dog’s dinner - that’s top quality in my neck of the woods.