Mikel Oyarzabal Shines Again in Real Sociedad Victory

Mikel Oyarzabal was once again the standout player in Real Sociedad’s victory, scoring the opening goal and later netting the pivotal second goal after Celta had equalized. With his team down a player, Oyarzabal’s contributions instilled confidence among his teammates, allowing them to believe in securing all three points despite the challenging circumstances.

Oyarzabal demonstrated his exceptional football intelligence during his first opportunity, as he opted for a powerful long-range shot rather than dribbling the ball into the area, taking advantage of the wet pitch. The shot was too powerful and well-placed for goalkeeper Radu to reach, marking an impressive goal.

As the captain of Real Sociedad, Oyarzabal was also actively involved in defensive duties. He attempted to influence the referee’s decision regarding Caleta-Car’s potential expulsion, though his efforts were unsuccessful. After halftime, with his team at a numerical disadvantage, he stretched the play whenever he gained possession. Following Borja Iglesias’ equalizer, Oyarzabal seized another opportunity, pushing toward the opponent’s area and unleashing a fierce left-footed strike, reminiscent of his earlier goal, to restore the lead at 2-1.

As expected, Oyarzabal received a standing ovation from nearly 30,000 fans in Anoeta when he was substituted with five minutes remaining, visibly exhausted. The crowd acknowledged that they had witnessed yet another historic performance from a player who, while not the greatest in the club’s history, may very well be the most decisive in terms of results and achievements.

In terms of legacy, Oyarzabal has begun his countdown to enter the top ten players with the most appearances for the club, currently standing at 417 matches. The tenth player, Mikel Aramburu, has 427 appearances, and Oyarzabal is also on track to climb the scoring leaderboard, currently tied with two others at 123 goals, just five behind Cholín Alcorta’s 128 goals.