Real Sociedad began life under new coach Jagoba Arrasate this evening in their opening La Liga match of the campaign at home to Getafe.
Last season's surprise Champions League qualifiers settled quickly and took the lead just before the break, courtesy of a cheeky chip from Carlos Vela.
Getafe struggled to create chances and fell further behind 17 minutes from time, with Swiss striker Haris Seferovic marking his debut with a composed finish.
Look back at an impressive display start to the season at the Anoeta with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening Spanish football fans. La Liga is back with a bang and we are just under 10 minutes away getting the 2013-14 campaign underway here at Sports Mole with a clash between Real Sociedad and Getafe.
TEAM NEWS! Sociedad coach Arraste has had to contend with a lengthy injury list ahead of this first match, not to mention Tuesday's impending Champions League qualifier against Lyon. As a result Griezmann drops to the bench this afternoon. A full look at both sides will follow in just a few moments.
SOCIEDAD: Bravo, C.Martínez, Ansotegi, Iñigo, De la Bella, Elustondo, Pardo, Zurutuza, Vela, Seferovic, Castro
GETAFE: Moyá, Alexis, Lacen, Sarabia, Colunga, P.León, Rafa (c), D. Castro, Escudero, Valera, Michel
Sociedad have Vela and Castro in advanced positions tonight, supporting summer signing Seferovic in attack. That pacy trio should still have enough to edge Getafe tonight, despite the likes of Mikel Gonzales missing out.
Getafe will look to lone striker Colunga for inspiration on the counter, with the visitors looking to build on a solid mid-table showing last season, with a side built around loan signings made permanent during the summer.
Here we go then, the Spanish league season in underway at the Anoeta, with Sociedad kicking off shooting from right to left. The hosts are quick to press in midfield, with Zurutuza chasing a long pass out for a goal kick.
Getafe show some positives signs in the final third early on, with Pedro Leon finding space out wide before seeing his cross drift beyond the far post.
Castro gets involved with a near turn and pass just outside the penalty area, but his precise pass towards Seferovic finds the Swiss striker offside. Both sides are taking their time to get going, with Vela winning the first corner kick after a pacy burst down left wing.
CHANCE! Getafe fail to clear the corner quick on more than one occasion and very nearly pay a heavy price. Inigo Martinez eventually found Seferovic with a flick header across goal, but unmarked from eight yards his effort stayed too central, allowing a relieved Moya to catch cleanly.
SAVE! Sarabia gets the first on target for Getafe, choosing to go alone after finding space just outside the penalty area. His low effort is probably curling just wide of the far post, but Bravo takes no chances to tip wide.
Getafe continue to look dangerous down the flanks, with Pedro Leon in particular offering a threat down the right wing. His chipped cross towards the back post sits up nicely but none of his teammates have gambled on the delivery, allowing Martinez to head away.
OFF THE BAR! Sociedad have just come within a whisker of taking the lead through Castro. Clever hold-up play from Seferovic created the chance, with Castro collecting to blast at goal from a tight angle. His drive smacked the underside of the crossbar before bouncing clear, with Moya getting a late touch at full stretch. If he did that has to go down as a quite magnificent stop.
The hosts are staring to find form as their trademark passing starts to become a regular feature in central midfield. Vela looks lively in the early stages and continues that trend by cutting inside to find Pardo inside the penalty area. The midfielder has time to strike on the volley as the ball sits up nicely, but his connection is poor and flies high and wide.
A run in-behind from Diego Castro wins Getafe a corner kick on the far side, which is quickly taken short. A curling cross eventually comes in but fails to beat the first defender, with Alexis sliding into a challenge on Castro on the follow-up. The defender probably won the ball but definitely took Castro out from behind, with the playmaker needing treatment on the touchline.
Castro recovers and returns swiftly to get involved in the final third, linking up with Vela before sending deflected drive through to Moya to register a strike on target. Vela's pace is definitely causing the visitors problems when he drives inside.
Sociedad launch a counter featuring Vela, Castro and Prado, with Seferovic eventually having a shot deflected wide from a tight angle. Getafe regroup to clear the corner kick, Alexis coming across to stop a dart beyond the back four from Vela.
Getafe have settled down in possession and are trying to stretch the match by keeping both wingers right on the touchline. Still no meaningful chances created for the visitors though, which is a concern.
Castro does brilliantly to evade three challenges in a forward run after an advantage played from the referee, but Seferovic can only blast wide after dropping off to meet his precise pass.
Sociedad continue their forward march as Vela turns quickly inside the penalty area, but Alexis gets support on the cover to crowd out the former Arsenal forward.
GOAL! Sociedad 1-0 Getafe (Vela)
A tradmark Sociedad counter has ripped Getafe apart to produce the opening goal of a new La Liga campaign. Castro and Seferovic combined to put Vela clean through in the final third. From there the Mexican stayed calm to produce the kind of chipped finish he became famous for at Arsenal, dinking down the middle to deceive Moya and break the deadlock.
HALF-TIME Sociedad 1-0 Getafe
Life under Arrasate has started brightly for Sociedad this afternoon, thanks to composed finish from Vela just before break, Despite missing a trio of play players the hosts have as usual looked comfortable in possession, with Getafe largely restricted to counter attacks and set pieces.
Sociedad's summer signing Seferovic has also been heavily involved, using strength to bring the likes of Vela and Castro into play. The Swiss forward also had chances to mark his debut with a goal in the first period, but lacked composure inside the penalty area on more than one occasion.
The hosts looked well prepared for their crucial Champions League tie with Lyon on Tuesday, but have a job to finish when play resumes. Getafe must commit more men forward in the second half, otherwise a consistent supply line from Castro and Leon out wide will continue to be wasted.
Here we go then, both sides are back out at the Anoeta and Getafe will get us back underway, looking for a route back into the opening game after conceding just before the interval.
Getafe are quick to create a chance for Sarabia, but his curling effort is shut down by Martinez and goes behind for a corner kick. Leon's cross looks promising from the set piece but comes off Rafa before trickling wide.
Colunga continues to be starved of service in attack for Getafe, as the forward fails to chase down a speculative long pass smashes forward.
Sociedad try their own ball over the top looking for Seferovic, who proves a willing runner as he forces Moya to come off his line and smash clear under pressure.
YELLOW CARD! Getafe full-back Escudero picks up the game's first caution after bringing down Zurutuza with a cynical challenge on the halfway line. Sociedad's passing is just lacking the sharpness on show in the first half, as Pardo fails to find a forward option with a through ball.
Inigo Martinez stays forward from a corner kick and attempts to find Seferovic with a backheel pass inside the box, with his intentions quickly shut down by a covering Getafe defender.
Seferovic continues his quest for a first goal by shooting from 20 yards, forcing Moya to save down low at the far post. The Swiss forward certainly has persistence to match his confidence, with Getafe clearing to win a corner kick at the other less than 30 seconds later.
SUBSTITUTION: Getafe have made their change of the match to provide fresh impetus in midfield, with Lafita replacing Sarabia in an advanced role. The visitors are enjoying more possession at the moment than at any other time in the match, but a killer pass inside the final third is still proving elusive.
SUBSTITUTION: Just a minute after their first change Getafe make a more positive swap in attack, with Leon swapped for Mikku. The former Celtic forward wastes no time in getting involved, helping create a chance as Colunga flashes wide from 12 yards. By far the visitor's best opening of the match.
SUBSTITUTION: Sociedad boss Arrasate decides he feels left out and quickly prepares a change of his own, with Xabi Preto replacing Zurutuza in central midfield. Sociedad have just struggled to retain possession in the last five minutes, which probably prompted a fresh face.
CHANCE! Getafe have just spurned a wonderful opportunity to equalise after putting together an incisive move. Mikku almost had in impact, winning a header inside the penalty area that fell kindly for Diego Castro. The winger raced towards the back post but under pressure from Martinez smashed over.
GOAL! Sociedad 2-0 Getafe (Seferovic)
Sociedad have punished their wasteful opponents by extending their lead and probably putting three points beyond doubt. Seferovic is the man to find the target on his debut, but Vela deserves great credit as chief creator. The Mexican found his strike partner with a wonderful pass inside the full back. Seferovic still had alot to do but made it look simple, chipping over the onrushing Moya from a tight angle to open his account for the Basque side.
SUBSTITUTION: More changes following that second goal as the hosts look to close out this match with minimum fuss, swapping Ruben Prado for Javi Ros. The replacement quickly gets involved, hammering towards goal with a fierce strike that needed Moya to gather at full stretch.
Sociedad look in complete control now as Vela goes in search of his second goal. The Mexican is afford space just outside the penalty area and curls towards goal, with his effort just going past the top corner. Vela looks in fine form and ready to be Sociedad's top scorer once again.
SUBSTITUTION: A final change for Sociedad as they ease into a comfortable spell of possession, with Gaztanga coming on for Elustondo in midfield. This has been an efficient, encouraging start to life in La Liga for Arrasate.
Vela nearly catches Getafe out after intercepting a strange ball back towards the penalty area from Getafe. The forward can afford a smile as he skews wide following an impressive display, but in truth he should have done better from that range.
Rios sends a cross towards Sefrovic that just curls away beyond the far post as we head into stoppage time. At the other end Colunga gets some space and drives towards goal from 20 yards, with his effort always rising as Bravo watches the ball sail over the crossbar.
Diego Castro wins a late free kick for Getafe near the corner flag, but an effort direct a goal from Colunga goes beyond the far post and that wasteful effort just about sums up their night at the Anoeta.
FULL-TIME Sociedad 2-0 Getafe
Well that was pretty much textbook from Sociedad in Arrasate's first game in charge. A debut goal from Seferovic should also please the hosts, who looked in fine fettle ahead of a crucial Champions League tie with Lyon to claim maximum points.
Well that just about does it at the Anoeta, but Sports Mole's coverage of La Liga's opening day continue as Valladolid face Bilbao, which can be followed by clicking here. Thanks for joining us and goodnight!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
