San Sebastian, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) – Real Sociedad pulled off a 2-1
upset win over 10-man Atletico Madrid at the Anoeta on Sunday as Imanol
Agirretxe scored the winning goal eight minutes from time.
The two sides traded goals in the opening 15 minutes with Mario Mandzukic
firing Atletico in front in the 10th before Carlos Vela equalized for Sociedad
five minutes later.
Atletico’s Guilherme Siqueira then picked up two yellow cards in the span of
three second-half minutes, and Agirretxe took advantage by heading home the
winner in the 82nd to hand Sociedad their second win of the campaign.
The loss drops Atletico into fourth place and four points adrift of leaders
Real Madrid.
Raul Garcia was the architect of the first goal as he sent a cross into the
box from the right wing that found the foot of Mandzukic for an easy tap in.
But Vela had a response within five minutes after he picked up a ball from
Bergara Markel and stroked home a left-footed effort past diving goalkeeper
Miguel Moya.
Sociedad was getting the better of the chances as the match wore on, and it
took a goal line clearance from Atletico’s Diego Godin to deny Agirretxe
before halftime.
Atletico’s chances at collecting three points were greatly reduced five
minutes into the second half when Siqueira fouled Vela to pick up a second
yellow card.
Moya made a good stop on Vela to keep the match level, but Joseba Zaldua’s
cross picked out Agirretxe, who turned a header past Moya from the middle of
the box.
Valencia sits in third place, three points back of Real Madrid, after being
held to a 0-0 draw at home by Athletic Bilbao, Diego Colotto rescued a point
for Espanyol with a goal in the 90th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw with
Villarreal, while Levante and Sevilla played to a 1-1 deadlock as Victor
Casadesus struck an equalizer for Levante 10 minutes from time.
