Mikel Oyarzabal provides tribute and two assists in Real Sociedad's victory over Espanyol

Anoeta paid tribute to Mikel Oyarzabal before the ball rolled. The captain, world champion with Spain, received the ovation from the San Sebastian public in the preview and reciprocated on the pitch with a performance that marks a match: two assists that sustained the first league victory of this season for Pellegrino Matarazzo at the head of Real Sociedad, which won 2-1 against an Espanyol that has already had two consecutive defeats.

The script was written soon. After four minutes, a well-executed pressure on the visitors' release of the ball returned the ball to Real near the rival area. Oyarzabal picked up the baton, advanced without stress to the front and found Barrenetxea, who resolved it first with a whip across the squad. A quick blow that left Espanyol unable to settle for much of the first half.

With the score in their favor, Real had arguments to have ruled before the break. Barrenetxea forgave one in the 18th minute, Oyarzabal demanded a good response from Dmitrovic in the 25th minute and, shortly after, a shot after a corner hit the crossbar with the Serbian goalkeeper also attentive to the rebound. Espanyol, for its part, barely worried Remiro beyond a foul by Edu Expósito that went wide.

The tie, however, came at the most uncomfortable moment for the locals. In the first half's addition, Javi Hernández found Roberto with a measured cross to the far post and the forward scored with a cross shot that left Remiro with no options. A blow that equalized a match that Real had dominated almost completely, and that both teams took to the break tied at one.

The script changed again at the restart. La Real continued to take the initiative, although it was difficult for them to find space against a retreating Espanyol that defended itself with more order than in the first act. The second goal came in the 62nd minute, in a play that summed up Oyarzabal's afternoon well: he received between the lines, raised his head and served to Óskarsson, who finished low and tight to return the advantage to his team. It was the captain's second assist, the culmination of a special afternoon after the recognition received before the opening whistle.

Espanyol, forced to row, had its best minutes between 55 and 68, with a shot by Javi Hernández that brushed the post and a shot by Moscardo that Remiro managed to deflect. The clearest chance for the parakeets came in the 82nd minute, when Dmitrovic avoided the third with a great intervention on a close-range shot by Guedes, who had entered shortly before from the bench.

The match closed with cards for Hinojo, Marcos Fernández, Bauzà and Zubeldia, the latter with a delay on the field of play after an injury to Remiro that forced the match to be stopped. The tension also reached the local bench: in added time, Matarazzo and his assistant saw the red card for protesting the fourth referee, the only blemish on an otherwise placid afternoon for the San Sebastián team.

With this victory, Real Sociedad opens its points tally in the League. Espanyol, for its part, returns to Barcelona with two consecutive defeats behind it.

Héctor Fort, new signing for Real

After collecting the first three points of the season in front of their fans, Real Sociedad has given new joy to their fans with the signing of Héctor Fort. The right-back arrives from FC Barcelona after spending a year on loan at Elche, where he scored three goals and two assists in 17 games.