Real Sociedad 2 - Villarreal 1

Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte (Nihat 65'), Kvarme, Luiz Alberto, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso, Idiakez (De Paula 82'); Tayfun, Khokhlov (Aranburu 56'), De Pedro; Kovacevic. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Xavi Roca, Ballesteros (Calleja 77'), Quique Alvarez, Unai (Berruet 67'), Arruabarrena; Jorge López, Galca, Cagna; Víctor (Pizzi 70'), Guayre. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Real Sociedad: No change / Villarreal: Quique Alvarez, Galca for Amor, Pizzi.

Goals:
1-0. 75. Aranburu. Picked up ball on edge of area after corner to beat keeper.
1-1. 79. Arruabarrena. Headed wide of keeper following corner from left.
2-1. 84. De Paula. Headed over keeper after Kovacevic laid back corner.

Real Sociedad recorded their first victory since their drubbing of Valladolid before Christmas, defeating a poor Villarreal side 2-1. Having only picked up one point from a possible last twelve, John Toshack's job was on the line, and another slip up would probably have meant the end for the third time in his career at San Sebastian. With Tayfun passing a late fitness test he was at least able to name an unchanged side, and they started well against a visiting side who appeared to looking for a scoreless draw, Víctor Muñoz having reverted back to his five man defence which he used successfully in away games for most of last season. The initial pressure from Real was slow paying off, with Kovacevic still not fully at his match best after half a season without regular first team football in Italy. The Yugoslavian striker put an early header just over the bar, then saw his slow shot cleared off the line by Quique Alvarez with the keeper beaten. The visitors' only reply was a long shot from Jorge López just before the break.

With an hour on the clock Toshack decided it was time for changes, and brought on Aranburu and then Nihat. Víctor Muñoz brought on Pizzi, who he had left on the bench to enable the on-form Guayre to keep his place alongside the returning Víctor. A couple of minutes later though Aranburu put the home side in front with a shot from the edge of the area, and Toshack appeared to be safe. The Basque side though have thrown away the lead on several occasions this season (viz. the last two games), and there was a collective groan from the home fans when Arruabarrena popped up to head past Westerveld on what was effectively Villarreal's first effort on target. This time though they bounced right back and a last desperate substitution by Toshack paid off, De Paula coming on to head the winner within seconds of his appearance on the field. With Tenerife losing heavily Real even move off the bottom of the table, and on their current form it may not be long before Villarreal drop below them. The East coast side are now only four points away from the bottom three, and with only one win now in nine games they are starting to look like relegation fodder. Toshack is off the hook for now, but Víctor is firmly back on it.