Real Sociedad 1-0 Mallorca Player Ratings: Antonio Raíllo 8/10 Rated as Oyarzabal's Strike Seals Narrow 1-0 Victory

Real Sociedad secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against a resilient Mallorca side. The match, which felt like a chess game at times, was ultimately decided by a single moment of quality. The home side deserved the win based on their control and persistence, though they were made to work for every inch.

The decisive blow came early in the second half. Mikel Oyarzabal, the ever-reliable captain, found the back of the net in the 49th minute. It was a classic poacher's finish, and it proved to be enough. The first half was a cagey affair with few clear-cut chances. Both teams seemed to be feeling each other out, with the midfield battle being particularly intense.

Real Sociedad dominated possession for large spells of the match, but Mallorca's defensive organization was commendable. They frustrated the home team's attackers effectively. What stood out to us was the sheer number of corners Real Sociedad won, a testament to their sustained pressure. However, they struggled to convert that pressure into goals, a recurring theme that kept the visitors in the game until the final whistle. Here are the Real Sociedad vs Mallorca player ratings.

Real Sociedad Player Ratings vs Mallorca

Here are the Real Sociedad player ratings vs Mallorca.

Goalkeeper

Álex Remiro - 7.5: A solid and reassuring performance. He wasn't peppered with shots but made three crucial saves inside the box when called upon. What stood out to us was his composure and distribution under pressure. He looked confident throughout the ninety minutes. A clean sheet is just a reward for his concentration.

Defenders

Jon Aramburu - 7.5: An energetic and adventurous display from the right-back. He was a constant outlet on the wing, getting forward to support the attack, though his four shots were all off target. Defensively, he was sound, winning his tackles and making seven clearances. He did lose the ball a fair bit, but his positive intent was a big plus for the team. We loved his all-action style.

Igor Zubeldia - 6.5: A mixed performance from the central defender. He made some important blocks and interceptions but struggled in the air, losing 7 of his 10 aerial duels. From our perspective, he looked a little shaky against the physical presence of Muriqi. He kept battling but it wasn't his most convincing outing. His passing was tidy enough, though.

Duje Caleta-Car - 7.0: A much more composed figure alongside Zubeldia. His passing from the back was excellent, completing 90% of his passes and finding his mark with long balls. He was strong in his duels and made three important clearances. We noticed he was a calming influence, often in the right place to snuff out danger before it escalated. A steady and reliable game.

Sergio Gómez - 7.5: Really impressive before his substitution. He was a creative force from the back, creating three chances and boasting a 91% pass accuracy. He provided great width and was a key part of Sociedad's build-up play. It was a shame to see him go off; he looked like he had more to give. A very polished performance.

Midfielders

Jon Gorrotxategi - 6.5: A functional, if unspectacular, performance in the midfield engine room. He kept the ball moving with a decent pass completion rate but didn't offer much in the way of defensive security or attacking thrust. He won most of his duels but only made two ball recoveries, which feels low for a midfielder. A solid shift without setting the world alight.

Carlos Soler - 7.0: Neat and tidy during his 64 minutes on the pitch. His passing was crisp, and he created one chance for his teammates. He got a shot on target and drew a couple of fouls in dangerous areas. From our perspective, he helped control the tempo of the game. A good contribution before being substituted.

Brais Méndez - 6.0: We honestly expected more from him. It was a frustrating night for the midfielder, who lost possession a staggering 21 times. He picked up a silly yellow card and his delivery from wide areas was poor. While he worked hard, his final product was seriously lacking. He never quite managed to impose his quality on the game.

Forwards

Ander Barrenetxea - 8.0: A fantastic and dynamic performance. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal with a great piece of play. He was a constant menace, attempting seven dribbles and creating three chances. The only blemish was a big chance he missed himself. Overall, he was one of the most dangerous players on the pitch and a key reason for the victory.

Mikel Oyarzabal - 8.0: The match-winner. It was a captain's performance, capped off by the decisive goal. He was clinical when it mattered most, showing great composure for the finish. Beyond the goal, he worked tirelessly, created two chances, and was a general nuisance for the Mallorca defence. He led by example and was the difference-maker.

Takefusa Kubo - 7.0: A lively and tricky performance against his former club. He was a constant threat with his dribbling and created a big chance that should have been converted. His end product wasn't always perfect, and he was caught offside twice, but his ability to unbalance the defence was vital. He always looked capable of making something happen. A good display.

Substitutes

Beñat Turrientes - 6.0: Came on and got involved, but was a bit reckless, picking up a yellow card for a poor challenge. He had a shot that went wide but didn't offer the control Soler had.

Aihen Muñoz - 6.5: Slotted in seamlessly for Sergio Gómez and helped see out the game without any fuss.

Pablo Marín - N/A: Not enough time to make a significant impact.

Gonçalo Guedes - N/A: Brought on late to help run down the clock.

Umar Sadiq - N/A: Came on in the final minutes with little time to influence proceedings.

Manager

S. Francisco Ramos - 7.0: His team controlled the match and got the all-important win. The setup was effective in pinning Mallorca back, even if the final product was sometimes missing. His substitutions were logical and helped manage the game's final stages. A professional job done.

Mallorca Player Ratings vs Real Sociedad

Here are the Mallorca player ratings vs Real Sociedad.

Goalkeeper

Leo Román - 7.0: He couldn't do much about the goal, which was a close-range finish. Made three saves, including a decent stop to deny a shot from outside the box. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but he was a solid presence between the sticks. A decent performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Toni Lato - 6.5: A battling performance from the left-back. He made four clearances and won his tackles but struggled to contain Sociedad's right-sided attacks at times. He tried to get forward and delivered one good cross. A decent, hard-working shift before being substituted.

Antonio Raíllo - 8.0: The man of the match, in our opinion. An absolutely colossal performance at the heart of the defence. He made a massive seven clearances, including one off the line that was heroic. He won every single one of his duels and made two crucial interceptions. It felt like he was everywhere, a true warrior who did everything he could to keep his team in the game.

Pablo Maffeo - 5.5: A difficult evening for Maffeo. He was booked early and seemed to be walking a tightrope afterwards. He was dribbled past three times and struggled with the movement of Barrenetxea. While he made some clearances, he looked vulnerable defensively. He did create two chances going forward, but his main job was a struggle.

Martin Valjent - 6.0: He put his body on the line with eight clearances. However, he looked uncomfortable on the ball, losing possession 14 times. He also struggled in the air, winning only one of his three aerial duels. A committed display, but lacked the quality needed against a top side.

David López - 6.0: Similar to his defensive partners, he was busy and made seven clearances before his substitution. He struggled in his duels, winning only one of four. He did his job without any glaring errors but didn't stand out. A solid but unremarkable 62 minutes.

Midfielders

Omar Mascarell - 6.0: His evening was cut short by an unfortunate injury just before half-time. In his 44 minutes, he was tidy enough but made an error that led to a shot. He was doing a decent job of breaking up play before he had to be replaced. We hope the injury is not too serious.

Antonio Sánchez - 5.5: A very quiet game from the midfielder. He barely got on the ball and was booked for a clumsy foul. He offered little going forward and lost most of his duels. It was no surprise to see him substituted just after the hour mark. He just couldn't get into the rhythm of the match.

Pablo Torre - 7.0: One of Mallorca's brighter sparks. He was always looking to make things happen and drew four fouls from the opposition. He created a big chance on the counter that should have been an assist. While he lost the ball a bit too often, his intent was positive, and he fought hard for the team.

Forwards

Vedat Muriqi - 6.5: A thankless task for the big striker. He won an impressive eight aerial duels, but was completely isolated for most of the game. He fed on scraps and couldn't get a shot on target. He worked hard and held the ball up when he could, but he had almost no service to work with. A frustrating night for him.

Mateo Joseph - 5.0: A really poor performance. From our perspective, he was the worst player on the pitch. He missed a glorious big chance to equalize, a moment that could have changed the game. He was constantly losing the ball, being dispossessed four times. He just never looked up to the pace of the game. A night to forget.

Substitutes

Samú Costa - 6.5: Came on for the injured Mascarell and did a decent job. He got a shot blocked and had a header saved late on.

Marc Domenech - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Sergi Darder - 6.0: Tried to add some creativity but his final ball was lacking, blazing one shot over the bar.

Johan Mojica - N/A: Late substitute.

Mateu Morey - N/A: Late substitute.

Manager

J. Arrasate - 6.5: His team was well-organized defensively and frustrated Real Sociedad for long periods. The game plan almost worked. However, his side offered very little in an attacking sense, which was ultimately their downfall. He couldn't find a way to get his forwards into the game. A solid defensive setup wasn't enough.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Antonio Raíllo