Real Sociedad – Villarreal: Villarreal Claim Comeback Win In Entertaining Clash (1-2)

The return of Spain’s top flight after the winter break saw a clash between two of the league’s in-form sides. Both teams had periods of good play and it was the visitors who managed to pull off the second half comeback in a tough away fixture.

Tactical analysis and match report by Julian Chingoma.

Real Sociedad sat in fifth and were well into the hunt for the Champions League places. Villarreal, on the other hand, were six points behind the hosts, a few places further back in what is a very closely clustered table.

Imanol Alguacil set up Real Sociedad in a 4-3-3 formation which also looked like 4-2-3-1 formation at times. Álex Remiro was in goal while Joseba Zaldúa and Nacho Monreal were the fullbacks with Diego Llorente and igor Zubeldia in central defense. In midfield, they had Ander Guevara as the deepest midfielder but he would often be joined by Mikel Merino to form a double pivot. 4-2-3-1 is one of the most frequently occurring formations in football. The two most defensive midfielders are called a ‘double pivot’. Martin Ødegaard would be the most advanced of the midfield three. Mikel Oyarzabal and Portu would be the wide options with Willian José as the striker.

Villarreal were lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation by Javi Calleja. Sergio Asenjo was their goalkeeper with a defensive line of four ahead of him. Mario Gaspar and Xavi Quintillà were the fullbacks who flanked the center-back pairing of Raúl Albiol and Pau Torres. Vicente Iborra and André-Frank Anguissa were . . .