Alexis Sánchez's second-half strike secured a vital 1-0 victory for Sevilla over Real Sociedad, keeping the hosts' survival hopes alive in a tightly contested La Liga clash.
Sevilla welcomed Real Sociedad to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on May 4, 2026, with both teams desperate for points. The hosts sat 18th in the table with 34 points from 33 matches, while Sociedad occupied ninth place with 43 points. Sevilla's recent form read poorly: losses, losses, a win, then two more defeats. Sociedad arrived with mixed results of their own, seeking consistency in their push for European qualification.
The opening 45 minutes unfolded as a tense affair with few clear-cut chances. Both teams felt their way into the match cautiously. In the 28th minute, referee's whistle blew twice in quick succession as yellow cards flew. Jon Aramburu received a caution for Sociedad, while García earned one for Sevilla moments later.
Sevilla controlled proceedings without dominating possession. The home side created space in dangerous areas but lacked the final touch. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, struggled to impose themselves despite enjoying more of the ball. The visitors managed just one shot off target in the first period, a telling statistic about their blunt attacking play.
The half ended goalless, though Sevilla's expected goals figure of 1.39 suggested they deserved a lead. Real Sociedad's xG of 0.17 reflected their ineffectiveness in the final third. Neither goalkeeper faced serious pressure before the interval.
The second half brought immediate change. Alexis Sánchez broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with a clinical finish. The striker found space inside the box and fired past Sociedad's goalkeeper to spark celebrations among the home crowd.
Sevilla's lead energized the stadium. The hosts pressed forward seeking a second goal to kill the contest. However, Real Sociedad refused to fold and began creating problems for the Sevilla defense. Gabriel Suazo, the home side's standout defender, made nine tackles throughout the 94 minutes and delivered a commanding performance at the back.
Yellow cards accumulated as tensions rose. Sánchez picked up a caution in the 75th minute for his celebrations and challenges. José Ángel Carmona received one in the 88th minute as Sevilla sought to preserve their advantage.
Real Sociedad pressed hard in the closing stages but could not find an equalizer. The visitors registered zero shots on target across the entire match, a stark reflection of their attacking struggles. Sevilla's defense held firm despite Real Sociedad's late pressure.
The statistics painted a clear picture of the contest. Sevilla took 19 shots compared to Sociedad's five. Real Sociedad dominated possession with 57 percent to Sevilla's 43 percent, yet this advantage yielded little. Sevilla's goalkeeper made no saves, while Sociedad's made four.
