Deportivo 3 - Real Sociedad 1

Deportivo: Molina; Héctor, César, Helder, Capdevila; Mauro Silva, Sergio (Emerson 55'); Víctor, Djalminha (Valerón 68'), Amavisca; Makaay (Diego Tristán 76'). 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; López Rekarte, Kvarme, Luiz Alberto, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Idiakez; Tayfun (Demetradze 72'), Khokhlov (Aranburu 80'), De Pedro; Jankauskas (De Paula 60'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Deportivo: Héctor, César, Capdevila, Mauro Silva, Djalminha, Makaay for Scaloni, Donato, Romero, Duscher, Valerón, Diego Tristán / Real: López Rekarte, Tayfun for Loren, Aranburu.

Goals:
0-1. 08. Xabi Alonso. Shot from 30 yards which bent away from keeper.
1-1. 36. Makaay. Turned and shot after Amavisca headed back Víctor's cross.
2-1. 57. Makaay. Shot inside near post after first effort blocked by defender.
3-1. 74. Makaay. Header over keeper from left of goal after Emerson floated pass.

A hat-trick from Roy Makaay helped leaders Deportivo to a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad. Makaay was one of six changes made by Irureta in order to rest players for next week's Champions League game, with Djalminha also coming in to the starting line up and Mauro Silva returning from injury. Makaay was keen to show his manager that he could count on him, and he shot wide soon after the match began. However Real were not to be intimidated having won three out of their last four games, and they took the lead in the sixth minute with a 30 yard shot from Xabi Alonso which left Molina clutching at air. The aggressive play by the Basques caught Depor off guard, and they could have added to their lead more than once in the next twenty minutes, with Jankauskas in particular going close on a couple of occasions.

But Makaay was not going to let his opportunity go to waste, and he levelled the scores ten minutes from the break, turning quickly and whipping the ball through the legs of Kvarme into the corner of the net. Then he repeated the act after the interval with another opportunist strike, controlling the rebound after his first shot was blocked and once again found the corner of Alberto's goal. It was a lesson to Real in how to finish off your chances, and he completed his hat-trick fifteen minutes from the end with the best goal of the night, a quick passing move between four players which ended with the Dutch striker heading the ball wide of the poor keeper.

Toshack's side can think themselves unlucky that they did not come away with a point at least, but at this level you have to take your chances when they arise. Depor did, and now lead the table two points clear of second placed Alavés. Real stay in second to last place and have a fight on their hands to pull clear of the drop zone. Toshack is already moving to sign a new striker when the transfer window opens next month. Judging by today's performance, he needs one soon.