Real Sociedad 2 - Valladolid 1

Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Jauregi, Schürrer, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Aranburu (Boris 76'); Karpin, Nihat, De Pedro (Gabilondo 76'); Kovacevic. 4-2-3-1.
Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, Peña, Mario, Marcos; Colsa, Ricchetti (Caminero 81'); Fernando Sales, Olivera (Oscar González 61'), Chema (Pachón 75'); Aganzo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real: No change / Valladolid: Aganzo for Pachón.

Goals:
1-0. 65. Nihat. Ran on to long clearance by Westerveld to beat Bizzarri.
2-0. 69. Karpin. First time shot in off cross bar after Xabi Alonso square pass.
2-1. 71. Colsa. Bent low free kick round defensive wall into bottom corner.

Real Sociedad kept up their incredible start to the season, moving up to second place behind Celta on goal average after beating Valladolid 2-1. It took them some time to get going though, and Westerveld was called on more than once to make good saves from Chema and Fernando Sales as the visitors came looking for their first ever win in Anoeta.

Things improved after the break though, and Nihat put them in front running on to a long clearance from Westerveld to drill the ball past Bizzarri with just over an hour gone. Then four minutes later Karpin scored a second with a long shot in off the bar after Xabi Alonso laid the ball in to his path.

The visitors didn't give up though, and Colsa got a goal back with a low free kick almost immediately. However Real held on, and Kovacevic missed a late penalty after Torres Gómez brought down substitute Gabilondo, the Yugoslav striker's kick bouncing away off the crossbar. The win gave the San Sebastian side their best start in 73 years, although new manager Raynald Denoueix recognised that this time their performance was not up to scatch.