Real Sociedad 6 - Valladolid 0

Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Kvarme, Luiz Alberto, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Idiakez; Tayfun, Khokhlov (Aranburu 83'), De Pedro (Gabilondo 75'); De Paula (Demetradze 67'). 4-2-3-1.
Valladolid: Ricardo; Torres Gómez, Santamaría, Peña, Marcos; Fernando Sales, Jesús, Fernando, Oscar; Cuauhtèmoc Blanco, Tote. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Real Sociedad: Westerveld, De Paula for Alberto, Jankauskas / Valladolid: Jesús, Oscar for Tena, Luis García.

Goals:
1-0. 34. Xabi Alonso. Volley from 30 metres after Khokhlov headed back cross.
2-0. 50. Khokhlov. Picked up Aranzabal pass and guided ball past keeper.
3-0. 57.De Paula. Pounced on loose ball after Khokhlov blocked.
4-0. 59. Tayfun. Took return pass from Khokhlov to hit low shot past keeper.
5-0. 84. Luiz Alberto. Followed up after Idiakez header hit post.
6-0. 86. Tayfun. Controlled ball and shot in off far post.

On the day of the annual Christmas lottery in Spain, Real Sociedad hit the jackpot, producing their best result in six years with a 6-0 victory over Valladolid. It was an impressive display from the San Sebastian side, who made a mockery of their league placing with a display of efficient football which took their opponents apart. Real's new goalkeeper Westerveld, just signed from Liverpool, had little work to do, and only in the first half an hour did he get a feel of the ball when he was called on to save a Cuauhtèmoc free kick. It was a cold night in the North of Spain, and it took Toshack's side a little time to get warmed up. However once they got started there was no stopping them, with midfielder Khohklov celebrating his 26th birthday with an inspired performance. The Russian international set up Xabi Alonso for him to beat Ricardo with a spectacular volley in the first half, and scored the second himself five minutes after the break, steering the ball past Spain's current number three keeper Ricardo after good work by Aranzábal.

After that the floodgates opened as Valladolid gave up, and although Khokhlov over-ran the ball, De Paula was on hand to curl a shot around Ricardo to make it three. Two minutes later Tayfun got his name on the scoresheet after taking a return ball from Khokhlov. Pepe Moré brought on three substitutes in quick succession, and it appeared to have done the trick when Fernando went close after Tote put him through. However it was just a flash in the pan, and Luiz Alberto scored a fifth after Idiakez headed against the post. The fans were in festival mood and stayed on to the end, and were rewarded by the best goal of the night, a shot by Tayfun which went in off the far post. It was a great performance, and with Kovacevic very close to agreeing to return to the club, it appears that Real are once again going to climb out of the bottom spots and save their season. They are still in the relegation spots, but with only six points between them and ninth placed Sevilla it should not be long before they are out of the danger zone. Valladolid themselves are now only four points ahead of them in fourteenth place, and Moré lambasted his players after the game, telling them to suffer during the two week Christmas break. It is a close fought league, and anyone who slips up in the next few weeks could go down.