Mikel Oyarzabal Achieves Milestone with Real Sociedad Amidst Victory Over Barcelona

Mikel Oyarzabal proudly marked his place among the elite players in Real Sociedad’s history, having now played 416 matches—a figure that is expected to rise. His milestone was celebrated with a victory against Barcelona, where he contributed by scoring his sixth goal of the current LaLiga season, bringing his total to 121 goals in a career that continues to grow. He is inching closer to entering the top ten for appearances and the podium for the most goals scored in the club’s history.

Oyarzabal nearly scored within the first 30 seconds of the match, but his goal was disallowed for being offside. Subsequently, goals from Fermín, De Jong, and Lamine Yamal were also ruled out due to fouls and offside violations, allowing the captain and his teammates a sigh of relief.

Despite being clearly outmatched for much of the game and struggling to exit their own half, Real Sociedad found an opportunity on the right flank. Oyarzabal, demonstrating his astute positioning, was ready at the far post to volley in a well-placed cross from Guedes, successfully finding the back of Barcelona’s net.

This goal marked his sixth in LaLiga after a challenging four-match period without scoring, with his last goal coming in a match against Getafe where he had missed several clear chances. Coupled with missed opportunities in the Copa del Rey against Osasuna, including a penalty in the decisive shootout, he faced growing frustration from some fans. “On Tuesday, many wanted to see me fail, but now the ball has found the net. What matters is being present in all scoring opportunities,” he remarked.

With 416 matches and 121 goals under his belt, Oyarzabal aims to continue advancing in individual rankings, eyeing Mikel Aranburu’s record of 427 matches for the top ten and Cholín Alkorta’s 128 goals for the scoring podium, with Roberto López Ufarte’s 129 goals also within reach.