Oyarzabal Strikes Early as Real Sociedad Push for Europe in Gran Canaria
The atmosphere in Gran Canaria was electric as UD Las Palmas hosted Real Sociedad in a crucial LaLiga EA Sports clash. With both teams fighting for very different objectives—Las Palmas desperately clinging to survival and the Basque side eyeing European spots—this fixture promised tension, passion, and drama. And right from the whistle, it delivered.
Barely four minutes had passed when Mikel Oyarzabal pounced on a rebound inside the box after a shaky clearance from Horkas. Barrenetxea had tried his luck from outside the area, and although the shot wasn’t too venomous, the goalkeeper couldn’t handle it cleanly. Oyarzabal, ever alert, was in the perfect place at the perfect time to tap it in and give La Real the lead.
Las Palmas didn’t fold. In fact, they responded with intensity, particularly through Fábio Silva, who was a real headache for the visitors' defense. He forced a stunning early save from Remiro and continued pushing with aerial threats and clever movement. But finishing was the issue. The Scottish striker McBurnie, known more for his assists than goals, found himself in great positions but couldn’t convert.
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The visitors, meanwhile, looked sharp on the break, with Barrenetxea being a constant threat down the left. He nearly doubled the lead with a chipped effort that was brilliantly stopped by Horkas. The midfield battle was fierce, especially with Javi Muñoz and Pablo MarÃn linking up well to build play. The Real Sociedad engine room was working hard to control the tempo and slow Las Palmas’ rhythm.
Defensively, Las Palmas had moments of chaos, particularly when dealing with balls from wide areas. Herzog and Viti had their hands full keeping Oyarzabal and Barrenetxea quiet, and although there were some heroic blocks, the threat never truly vanished.
The frustration grew in the stands as decisions from the referee, Ortiz Arias, didn’t go in favor of the home side. One moment in particular saw Oyarzabal brought down by Herzog in a clear run, but the referee waved it off, leaving the Real captain fuming.
Statistically, Las Palmas weren’t poor. They had possession spells, got into dangerous areas, and showed intent. But the cold truth remains—they’ve yet to win a single league game in 2025, and this match was another reminder of how cruel football can be when you're down. The fans showed their displeasure, and the tension in the stadium was thick.
On the other side, Real Sociedad’s win, although narrow, was vital. Not only does it snap their poor away form, but it also puts them right back into the European conversation. With their Copa del Rey dreams dashed recently at the Bernabéu, LaLiga is now their sole focus. Imanol Alguacil made key rotation decisions, including benching Kubo, and it paid off. The team showed control, maturity, and just enough quality to get the job done.
As things stand, Las Palmas are slipping further into the relegation pit, now four points from safety. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, leapfrog up the table, just two points behind Rayo, who occupy the final European spot. It’s still all to play for, but this game may well be remembered as a turning point in both teams’ seasons.
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