Dull but with a lot of skill, Real Sociedad added a long-suffering victory in Balaídos, where they won 1-2 with a goal from Zubeldia at the start of the second half and beat Athletic Club in the standings after the latter's puncture against Atlético de Madrid.
The team from San Sebastian suffered until the end to keep their seventh consecutive victory between the League and the Europa League. He barely had the ball but he knew how to exploit the defensive fragility of his rival from set pieces to extend his idyll with the celestial stadium.
In the first part, very little real time was played despite the eight minutes added due to the constant interruptions. The match was intended to be an open one, with an exchange of blows, but it was a tactical battle.
Coudet, who has never beaten Imanol, ordered his players to press in the rival field to nullify Real's most creative footballers, and the tactic worked wonders for him despite Real Sociedad hitting him on his first approach.
It was in the 30th minute, after a poor clearance by Gabri Veiga from the ground. The ball fell at the feet of the txuri-urdin captain on the edge of the area. Illarra accommodated his body, hit him with his left foot and placed the ball close to the short post, making Agustín Marchesín's stretch useless.
The blow, undeserved, could have been even greater for the sky-blue team because four minutes later, after a great pass into space by Diego Rico, Sorloth beat central defender Aidoo in speed to plant himself in the Galician area but his shot crashed into the side net.
Celta did not change their script, with the lines together in defense and clinging to the creativity of Gabri Veiga. The youth squad shone again in the construction of the game. In attack, Norwegian striker Larsen was a nightmare for the centre-backs. The young celestial promise is still unmarked, but his work is tireless.
The equalizing goal came after a monumental error by Zubimendi. In the construction of the game, on the edge of his area, he gave the ball to Iago Aspas, and the Galician striker did not miss the gift to beat Remiro.
He made a move after passing through the changing rooms Imanol Aguacil. He introduced Mikel Merino for the striker Illarra, who had seen a card in the first half. And his team punished Celta's defensive fragility with set pieces very soon.
Zubeldia's goal came after a corner kick that Merino forced with a cross shot that Marchesín deflected and Javi Galán, threatened by Kubo, later sent for a corner. Brais Méndez executed it at the second post, and there the Basque center-back, free of a frame, punished Celta's defensive imbalance.
Coudet's team had to row again. He had a little over half an hour left. The Argentine coach sought greater mordant with Carles Pérez, and the former Roma soccer player reactivated his team. His was the best light blue chance, but Remiro denied him the tie with a great one-hand stop.
Celta continued to attack, already with three strikers on the field -Aspas, Larsen and Paciencia-, but Real Sociedad fired ex officio to preserve a worthy victory in Vigo.
1 - RC Celta: Marchesín; Hugo Mallo (Mingueza, min. 64), Aidoo, Unai Núñez, Javi Galán; Beltran; Óscar Rodríguez, Gabri Veiga (Carles Pérez, min. 64), Cervi (Paciencia, min. 79); Aspas and Larsen.
2 - Real Sociedad: Remiro; Gorosabel (Aritz, min.68), Le Normand, Zubeldia, Aihen (Diego Rico, min.27); Zubimendi, Illarra (Mikel Merino, min.46), Brais Méndez, David Silva (Navarro, min.74); Kubo and Sorloth.
Goals: 0-1, m.30: Illarra. 1-1, m.38: Iago Aspas. 1-2, m.54: Zubeldia.
Referee: Cuadra Fernández (Madrid school). He expelled Paciencia (min.90) with a direct red card. In addition, he admonished Larsen (min. 45), Hugo Mallo (min. 48), Carles Pérez (min. 77), Mingueza (min. 80) and Unai (min. 90) by Celta, and Illarra (min. 23), Le Normand (min.44), Zubimendi (min.45), David Silva (min.67), Zubeldia (min.68), Barrene (min.88) and Navarro (min.90) by the Real society.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the ninth day of LaLiga Santander played at the Abanca Balaídos stadium before 13,101 spectators.
