Real Sociedad: Rulli; Zaldúa, Íñigo Martínez, Mikel González, Yuri; Illarramendi, Rubén Pardo (Carlos Vela 68‘); Oyarzabal, Zurutuza, Juanmi (Xabi Prieto 83’); Willian José. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Diego López; Javi López (Rubén Duarte 59’), David López, Oscar Duarte, Víctor Sánchez; Hernán Pérez (Salva Sevilla 70’), Marc Roca, Javi Fuego, Piatti (Jurado 77’); Gerard Moreno, Leo Baptistao. 4-4-2.
Goals:
0-1. 62. Piatti. Picked up ball outside of area and curled long shot past Rulli.
1-1, 78. Willian José. Looped header inside near top corner from Zaldúa cross.
Yellow cards: Oscar Duarte 14’, Illarramendi 44’, Zurutuza 75’, Rubén Duarte 77’, Javi Fuego 88’, 92’ / red cards: Javi Fuego 92’.
La Liga returned after the two week international break, Real Sociedad and Espanyol sharing the points in a 1-1 draw on Friday night. Having let in eight goals in the first two matches, Quique Sánchez Flores changed his goalkeeper, new signing Diego López replacing Roberto, and David López and Víctor Sánchez were also drafted in to defence. Chances were few and far between in the first half, the best a header by Iñigo Martínez just wide of the post, but after the restart Illarramendi shot just wide, and Juanmi had a headed goal ruled out for a borderline offside. However with just over an hour gone Piatti picked up a loose ball out side of the area and fired a shot past Rulli to give the Catalans the lead, and a couple of minutes later the local keeper almost carried a Rubén Duarte cross in to his own net. Yuri tested Diego López a few minutes later though, and with twelve minutes to go Willian José got above his marker to head Zaldúa’s centre in to the near top corner of the net. Javi Fuego was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury time, but the game ended seconds later.