Elche 1-1 Real Sociedad Player Ratings: Pedrosa Rated 8/10 as Oyarzabal's Late Penalty Snatches a 1-1 Draw

A dramatic late penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal secured a point for Real Sociedad, cancelling out Álvaro Rodríguez's second-half opener in a tense 1-1 draw against Elche. The La Liga encounter at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero was a cagey affair, with both teams struggling for clinical finishing in a goalless first half. From our perspective, Elche looked the more likely to break the deadlock, even striking the post through Rodrigo Mendoza in the 26th minute.

The game burst into life just before the hour mark. Álvaro Rodríguez connected beautifully with a cross from Álvaro Núñez to head Elche into a deserved lead. It seemed like the home side were heading for a hard-fought victory, defending resolutely against a frustrated Real Sociedad side. However, the turning point arrived in the 88th minute when David Affengruber clumsily brought down substitute Umar Sadiq in the box.

The responsibility fell to captain Mikel Oyarzabal, who made no mistake from the spot, coolly dispatching the penalty to level the scores. The late goal felt like a gut punch for Elche, who had performed admirably for most of the match. Ultimately a draw felt like a fair result, though Elche will feel they let two points slip through their fingers.

Here are Elche Vs Real Sociedad Player Ratings

Elche Player Ratings vs Real Sociedad

Here are Elche Player Ratings vs Real Sociedad

Goalkeeper

Matías Dituro - 7.5: A very commanding performance from the Elche shot-stopper. He made four crucial saves, including a great stop to deny Brais Méndez in the second half. What stood out to us was his distribution, completing 80% of his passes and confidently claiming high balls. He was helpless for the penalty but can be proud of his display.

Defenders

Adrià Pedrosa - 8.0: Our man of the match. He was a constant threat down the left flank, creating three chances and always looking to get forward. Defensively sound as well, winning most of his duels and making some important tackles. A tireless and high-quality performance that deserved to be on the winning side. He really caught our eye with his energy.

Álvaro Núñez - 7.5: Provided a fantastic assist for the opening goal with a pinpoint cross. His passing was immaculate throughout the game, boasting a 92% accuracy rate. He was a reliable presence both in defence and attack, linking up play effectively and making six clearances. A very impressive outing.

David Affengruber - 5.0: It's a game of moments, and his moment was a disastrous one. After a relatively solid game where he made seven clearances, he conceded the late penalty with a clumsy challenge. It was a rash decision that cost his team two points. A tough night for the defender, and a performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Víctor Chust - 7.0: A really solid and composed display at the back before being substituted. He was excellent on the ball, with a 94% pass completion rate, and won all of his tackles. He read the game well, making three clearances and keeping Real Sociedad's attackers quiet for large periods. A dependable showing.

Midfielders

Marc Aguado - 6.5: Kept things ticking over in midfield with tidy passing. He worked hard but didn't have a huge influence on the game in an attacking sense. From our perspective, he did his job without any fuss, providing a solid base for the more creative players to work from before he was subbed off.

Aleix Febas - 7.5: A whirlwind of activity in the midfield. He was everywhere, winning an incredible 14 duels and completing four dribbles. He drew five fouls, constantly disrupting Real Sociedad's rhythm. His energy and tenacity were infectious, and he was a key reason Elche controlled the midfield for long stretches.

Rafa Mir - 6.5: An active but ultimately frustrating night for the forward. He got into good positions and had a couple of shots on target but lacked the clinical edge to find the back of the net. He worked hard for the team, but you feel he needed to be more decisive in the final third.

Josan - 7.0: The captain led by example with a creative and hard-working display. He created two good chances and was a constant outlet on the wing. His experience was vital in organising the team's press. A good performance before he was withdrawn in the second half.

Rodrigo Mendoza - 6.5: He was desperately unlucky not to score when his long-range effort struck the post in the first half. That was his standout moment in a game where he was otherwise neat in possession but struggled to make a consistent impact. A decent effort, but he drifted in and out of the game.

Forwards

Álvaro Rodríguez - 7.5: The goalscorer. He took his goal brilliantly with a powerful header, showing great movement to get on the end of the cross. He was a real handful for the opposition defenders, winning 10 duels and providing a physical presence up front. A very effective performance leading the line.

Substitutes

Germán Valera - 6.0: Came on but didn't have enough time to influence the game.

Héctor Fort - 6.0: Brought on to help see out the game, had little to do.

John Donald - N/A: On late, no real impact.

Léo Pétrot - N/A: Late sub to shore up the defence.

Federico Redondo - N/A: Came on in stoppage time.

André Silva - N/A: A very late substitution.

Manager

E. Sarabia Armesto - 6.5: His game plan was nearly perfect. His team was organized, disciplined, and took their chance when it came. He was let down by an individual error for the penalty, and there's little he could do about that. A frustrating result, but his tactics were largely on point.

Real Sociedad Player Ratings vs Elche

Here are Real Sociedad Player Ratings vs Elche

Goalkeeper

Álex Remiro - 6.5: Made a couple of decent saves to keep his team in it, particularly one from Rafa Mir in the first half. He couldn't do anything about the goal. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but it was a solid enough performance overall. He didn't have a huge amount to do besides the saves.

Defenders

Jon Aramburu - 6.0: A very busy evening for the defender. He won an impressive 10 duels but also got booked and was dribbled past three times. He showed good fight and endeavour but looked a little vulnerable at times. A mixed bag of a performance.

Igor Zubeldia - 6.0: He was a rock in terms of clearances, making eight throughout the match. However, he struggled in the air, winning only one of his six aerial duels. It was an okay performance, but he looked uncomfortable against the physicality of Álvaro Rodríguez at times.

Sergio Gómez - 5.5: A quiet game for the defender, who failed to make a significant impact. He was tidy enough in possession but didn't offer much going forward or defensively before being substituted. We noticed he seemed a bit off the pace.

Jon Martín - 6.0: A steady, if unspectacular, performance at the back. He was decent with his passing and made a few important clearances. He did his job without making any glaring errors but also without standing out. A standard defensive shift.

Midfielders

Jon Gorrotxategi - 5.5: He saw a lot of the ball but was too wasteful in possession, losing it 17 times. He struggled to impose himself on the game and picked up a late yellow card for a clumsy foul. Not his best day at the office.

Gonçalo Guedes - 5.0: A really anonymous performance. He was on the pitch for 64 minutes but barely made an impression, touching the ball just 22 times. From our perspective, he looked disconnected from the rest of the team and was rightly substituted.

Takefusa Kubo - 6.5: Looked like one of Real Sociedad's most likely sources of a goal in the first half. He was lively and direct, forcing a good save from the keeper. However, his influence waned, and he was substituted after 64 minutes. A promising start that faded.

Carlos Soler - 6.5: A neat and tidy performance in midfield. He created two chances and had a good pass completion rate. He worked hard but perhaps lacked that decisive pass to unlock the Elche defence. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Brais Méndez - 7.0: Real Sociedad's most creative player for much of the game. He created three chances and always looked to make things happen in the final third. His energy and vision were impressive before he was surprisingly taken off. He can feel a bit hard done by to be subbed.

Forwards

Mikel Oyarzabal - 7.5: The captain delivered when it mattered most. He showed nerves of steel to score the late penalty and rescue a point. He was a constant threat, registering five shots throughout the game. His leadership and composure were crucial for his team.

Substitutes

Arsen Zakharyan - 5.5: Came on for Kubo but struggled to get involved and picked up a yellow card.

Umar Sadiq - 7.0: A game-changing substitute. His presence and direct running caused problems for the Elche defence, and he did brilliantly to win the penalty. A very effective cameo.

Pablo Marín - 6.0: Added some fresh legs in midfield but didn't have a major impact.

Aihen Muñoz - 6.0: Slotted in and did his job without any issues.

Luka Sucic - N/A: On for the final few minutes.

Aritz Elustondo - N/A: A late injury replacement.

Manager

S. Francisco Ramos - 6.5: His team looked flat for large parts of the game and struggled to create clear-cut chances. However, he deserves credit for his substitutions, particularly the introduction of Umar Sadiq, which completely changed the dynamic of the match and ultimately earned his team a point. A mixed bag, but his changes worked.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Pedrosa