Real Sociedad won 6-0 in Norway to claim their first Europa League league-phase victory of the season, matching the biggest win in their European history. Left-back Sergio Gómez scored twice and now shares the top of the competition's scoring chart ahead of Lyon's visit to Anoeta.
The scoreline at Åråsen Stadion equalled the biggest win in the club’s European history, according to Noticias de Gipuzkoa. The mark dates from a 6-0 win at Vardar on matchday three in 2017. UEFA described that game at the time as the biggest away win in Europa League history.
Matarazzo’s side had struggled before Thursday. They lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth on matchday one. They then drew 1-1 away to Union SG on matchday two.
Oyarzabal’s eight-minute spell settled the game early
Lillestrøm had the better of the opening minutes and pressed the visitors hard. Within eight minutes, Oyarzabal’s creativity then turned the match. Sergio Gómez struck in the 25th and 27th minutes. The first came with his left foot, the second with a delicate right-footed finish past Dahlberg. Luka Sučić added the third in the 33rd minute.
The hosts had a chance to respond after the break. Thomas Lehne Olsen missed a penalty in the 50th minute. Orri Steinn Óskarsson made it four in the 64th minute from a Gonçalo Guedes assist. Sučić scored again in the 72nd. Arsen Zakharyan completed the rout in the 80th minute from Benat Turrientes’s pass.
The figures point to a closer contest than the score. Expected goals finished 2.29 for Lillestrøm against 2.46 for Real Sociedad. The hosts had 14 shots to 16. The gap lay in accuracy: Real Sociedad put 8 shots on target, Lillestrøm 2. The visitors also had 56% of possession.
For Lillestrøm, the defeat compounds a difficult start. They had lost 2-1 at home to Torreense and drawn 1-1 at Sparta Praha in their first two league-phase games.
A left-back now shares the competition’s scoring lead
No Real Sociedad player has scored more in this season’s competition than Sergio Gómez, whose opening European goal came in the defeat to Bournemouth. The data provider rated him 9.04, just ahead of Sučić on 9.02.
Spain’s other Europa League side also won away on matchday three. Celta came from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 in Glasgow. Javi Rodríguez scored both of their goals.
Real Sociedad return to LaLiga against Levante at Anoeta on Sunday 25 October. That matchday 10 fixture kicks off at 17:30. Later European dates include a trip to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 26 November. Torreense come to San Sebastián on 10 December. The league phase ends away to Juventus on 28 January 2027.
Sources
- Resumen y vídeos de la jornada 3 de la Europa League: la Real golea y el Celta toma Glasgow (UEFA)
- Upcoming fixtures (Real Sociedad)
- Real Sociedad vs Levante UD – LALIGA EA SPORTS (LaLiga)
- A la Real se le caen los goles ante el Lillestrom (0-6) (Noticias de Gipuzkoa)