Real Sociedad 2 - Real Murcia 0

Real Sociedad: Alberto; López Rekarte, Kvarme, Schürrer, Potillón; Xabi Alonso (Aramburu 70'), Alkiza; Karpin, Nihat, Gabilondo (De Pedro 46'); Kovacevic. 4-2-3-1.
Real Murcia: Juanmi; Azkárate, Cuadrado, Loeschbor, Maciel, Carreras (Varela 33'); Luis García, Acciari, Jensen (Tato 65'), Michel; David Karanka. 5-4-1. Team changes: Real: No change / Murcia: Carreras, Jensen, Michel for Valera, Clavero, Richi.

Goals:
1-0. 64. Nihat. Turned Alkiza pass past Juanmi.
2-0. 88. Nihat. Picked up De Pedro pass and beat keeper.

Real Sociedad moved clear of the danger zone after a 2-0 win over bottom club Real Murcia, who could be mathematically relegated by next weekend. The fixture signalled the return of visiting manager John Toshack to his old hunting ground, and a minute's silence was observed by all out of respect for his father who recently passed away.

The San Sebastian side got off to a lively start, with Kovacevic going close with a couple of headers and Gabilondo shooting wide. Murcia felt themselves unlucky not to be in front by the break though when referee Rubinos Pérez disallowed a goal by Acciari for a dubious offside.

Real finally went in front twenty minutes in to the second half when Nihat latched on to Alkiza's through ball to beat Juanmi. Cuadrado got the ball in the net at the other end a minute or so later, but Rubinos once again ruled out the strike, ignoring the advantage rule and pulling the game back for a previous foul by a local defender.

Reynald Denoueix had brought on transfer listed Javier De Pedro at the break, and the Spanish international winger was causing havoc down the left flank. With two minutes to go he set up Nihat to score his second goal of the night, putting the fans at ease for the first time in the match. Real ended the weekend in twelfth place, and with an eight point gap over the relegation places they must now consider themselves safe for another season.