Real Sociedad fell to a 3-2 defeat against Granada on Tuesday, September 8, in a La Liga match that leaves the team ninth in the table with 7 points. Individual player ratings published by Diario Vasco after the game reveal a mixed performance from the txuri-urdin, with both positive and negative aspects across different areas of the pitch.
Goalkeeper Arrula had a difficult night conceding three goals and giving away a penalty, while the defense showed vulnerabilities. Esther, playing on the right, lacked authority and was at fault for Granada's third goal. Claudia appeared more comfortable at right-back, but Moraza lacked her usual intensity and could have done more on the first two goals. Camino, shifted to left-back, struggled with the ball.
Who stood out in midfield?
Ainhoa had more influence from midfield and sought an equalizer, though she needs to play alongside a central reference point. Paula Fernández was one of the standout performers, providing two assists from set pieces and offering defensive solidity in the holding midfield role. Arola showed interesting play on the right until halftime but didn't create clear chances. Intza started brightly on the left but faded as the game progressed, though she completed the full match.
Cahynová scored a goal and remained influential, even dropping into central defense during later stages. The major positive was the official first-team debut of Chacón, who scored a goal and created another clear chance early in the match. Her introduction from the bench made a very good impression.
What happened with the substitutions?
Cecilia's omission from the starting lineup was surprising, and when she came off the bench she couldn't change the game's course. Eizagirre, another notable substitute, also failed to alter the match's development. Seelenfreund made her league debut coming off the bench, looking for space in attack. Ainoa had a clear chance in the 98th minute to avoid defeat but couldn't convert it.
What is the team's current context?
This defeat leaves Real Sociedad in ninth place in La Liga, with a record of 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses from their first five games. The team has scored 6 goals and conceded 8, giving them a -2 goal difference. In the title race, the txuri-urdin are 5 points behind leaders Barcelona.
The next fixture is on Sunday, September 13 against Atlético Madrid at the Reale Arena, a match featured on our fixtures page. Atlético currently occupies seventh position in the table. For that game, the team will be without the confirmed absences of Pablo Marín and Álvaro Odriozola, whose status can be checked on our injuries list.
The squad needs a quick reaction to improve their position in the La Liga standings, especially against a direct rival like Atlético. Sunday's match represents an immediate opportunity to correct the defensive mistakes shown against Granada and collect important points at home.
