The Senegalese striker Nico Jackson stirred with his entry to Villarreal in the duel against Real Sociedad when the yellow team was having the worst, which cuts the gap in the fight to enter the Champions League thanks to a penalty goal from Dani Parejo (m .77) and another from the African attacker himself (m.81), who ended up sent off with a double yellow for his celebration and a tackle on Oyarzabal.
The start of the match was marked by a frenetic rhythm from both squads that caused the first dangerous play to come just after four minutes with a ball hanging from Baena for Morales, who perfectly read his teammate's intention, leaving behind the two center-backs and stood in front of Remiro, but his left-footed shot went wide.
The San Sebastian team responded immediately with a quick transition that Kubo culminated with a powerful shot that Reina cleared and, after the hectic start, Villarreal began to suffer with Real's recoveries in the opposite half, who saw how their forward pressing worked and did not allowed his rival to have long possessions.
The game, with two consecutive chances by Sorloth and a spectacular play by Terrats and Baena that Yeremy hit the woodwork first, got more and more out of control, but, in the final stretch of the first half, Villarreal managed to hold the game, contained to those of Imanol Alguacil and lived in the San Sebastian area, where Remiro was sure to stop the yellow actions from set pieces.
Morales had in his boots the chance to put the locals ahead, with a minute to go before the break, but, after a great individual action, he sent the ball sky high. The second half began with the same intensity that prevailed in the first, but this time with a Real that quickly prevailed and saw a shot from Kubo skim the crossbar (m.52).
La Real put Villarreal against the ropes with a shot from Gorosabel that Foyth saved and another from Merino that came out brushing the post, but Jackson's entry suited Quique Setién's team very well who, after a quick run by the striker, He patiently built a play that ended in a penalty from Zubimendi to Chukwueze.
Parejo (m.77) converted the penalty and four minutes later Jackson, with a good maneuver, made the second for Villarreal, who held out well in the last few minutes to close the victory despite the fact that in 91 minutes the Senegalese was sent off due to a double card yellow.
2 – Villarreal: Reina; Foyth, Mandi, Pau (Cuenca, m.85), Pedraza (Moreno, m.73); Terraces (Lo Celso, m.62), Parejo, Baena (Trigueros, m.85); Chukwueze, Morales (Jackson, d.62), Yeremy
0 - Real Sociedad: Remiro; Gorosabel (Sola, m.84), Zubeldia, Le Normand, Aihen; Take Kubo (Cho, m.71), Zubimendi, Merino (Illarra, m.85), Brais Méndez; Sorloth (Oyarzabal, m.70), Silva (Barrene, m.85)
Goals: 1-0, m.77: Parejo, penalty. 2-0, m.81: Jackson
Referee: Gil Manzano (Extremadura Committee). He admonished Terrats, Reina and Foyth with a yellow card and Jackson with a double yellow card from the locals; and Zubeldia, Zubimendi and Silva from the visitors
Incidents: Match corresponding to the twenty-seventh day of LaLiga 2022/23 played at the La Cerámica stadium in front of 18,768 spectators.
The match was attended by former Villarreal players Juan Pablo Sorín, Moisés García, Fabricio Coloccini, Antonio Agraz and Rodolfo Martín Arruabarrena, who is also the United Arab Emirates coach. In addition, 350 Real Sociedad fans attended (200 in the Upper Stand of the North Fund and 150 exchange fans in the Tribune).
