Real Sociedad left the Ramón de Carranza with their position at the top of LaLiga reinforced after securing a hard-fought victory over Cádiz CF, courtesy of a solitary second half strike from Alexander Isak.
Cádiz, who fought until the final whistle, could not muster an equalizer to level the game and take a share of the points.
La Real controlled possession from the start
The opening exchanges in the Ramón de Carranza passed without any significant chances for either side, although Real Sociedad asserted control of the ball from the outset and set about making it abundantly clear what they intended to do with it.
Cádiz sat back while La Real looked for the finish
Imanol Alguacil’s side had a clear game plan: to get the ball forward and seek to create chances. Both Isak and Mikel Oyarzabal attempted shots from distance that didn’t require the intervention of Conan Ledesma but did provide a clear signal of the visitors’ intentions.
Two glorious chances for Merino
As the game progressed Real Sociedad began to push Cádiz back, gaining a foothold in the home side’s half and pressuring Ledesma’s area, carving out two clear chances in succession. Both fell to the same player, Mikel Merino. The first was created by an incursion from the right by Adnan Januzaj, whose pass was met with everything in Merino’s favour but the Sociedad midfielder’s shot was deflected behind for a corner. From the subsequent delivery, Merino rose to plant a header across goal that looked destined for the inside of the post but went wide.
Conan denies Oyarzabal with a prodigious hand
As the second half got underway it seemed as though the game was destined to continue in the same vein, although the changes made by Álvaro Cervera did lend fresh impetus to the home side. The introduction of Iván Alejo and Carlos Akapo gave Cádiz greater depth on the right flank but La Real responded with a warning shot across the bow from Oyarzabal, whose snap shot from inside the area was turned behind with a wonderful one-handed reaction save from Cádiz keeper Conan.
Isak makes the breakthrough
Conan was powerless though to prevent La Real from taking the lead when Isak met a cross from Januzaj to head home from point blank range. Having had an earlier effort ruled out for offside, the Sociedad striker made no mistake with his second clear opportunity.
Cádiz push for an equaliser but without reward
Once La Real had scored the goal they were looking for the visitors took their foot off the accelerator and attempted to adjust the rhythm of the game to their advantage and preserve their lead, obliging Cádiz to throw everything into an attempt to find an equalizer.
Álvaro Giménez produced a decent effort and a cross whipped in by Alejo only needed a touch but evaded the yellow shirts in the area as Cádiz applied pressure. Alberto Perea saw a crack from distance fly over the bar late on when a free kick was awarded but there was no time for more as La Real saw out the remaining seconds to secure the win.
