Real Sociedad beats Elche 3-1 as Sucic opens scoring before injury exit

Real Sociedad secured a 3-1 win over Elche CF at the Reale Arena on February 7, extending their push for European qualification while leaving the visitors sliding deeper into trouble near the bottom of La Liga. Luka Sucic got the hosts rolling with a left-footed finish in the 24th minute, but his evening lasted only five more minutes before a muscular injury forced him off. Sociedad didn’t blink. Mikel Oyarzabal doubled the lead before halftime, and Orri Steinn Oskarsson added a third in the 89th minute to put the result beyond doubt. A tale of two halves (sort of) Sucic’s opener came courtesy of a Gonçalo Guedes assist, a well-constructed move that rewarded Sociedad’s early pressure in front of roughly 30,000 fans at Anoeta. The Croatian midfielder’s departure in the 29th minute could have disrupted the home side’s rhythm, but manager Pellegrino Matarazzo’s squad proved deeper than one player. Oyarzabal made it 2-0 in the 37th minute, pouncing on a defensive error from an Elche backline. Elche, to their credit, didn’t roll over. André Silva pulled one back in the 42nd minute, heading into the break at 2-1. Then Oskarsson ended the suspense with his 89th-minute goal, restoring the ...