Real Sociedad recorded their first Europa League league-phase win of the season with a 6-0 victory over Lillestrøm, matching the biggest away win in the club’s European history.
Sergio Gomez scored twice at Arasen Stadion and is now Real Sociedad’s leading scorer in this season’s competition, ahead of Lyon’s visit to Anoeta. The result also equalled the 6-0 victory over Vardar on matchday three in 2017. UEFA described that result at the time as the biggest away win in Europa League history.
Matarazzo’s side had made a difficult start to their European campaign. They were beaten 2-1 at home by Bournemouth on matchday one before drawing 1-1 away to Union SG in their second fixture.
Lillestrøm began the match strongly and applied pressure to the visitors, but Mikel Oyarzabal’s influence helped Real Sociedad take control during an eight-minute spell early in the game.
Gomez opened the scoring in the 25th minute with his left foot and doubled the advantage two minutes later, guiding a delicate right-footed finish beyond Dahlberg. Luka Sucic added a third in the 33rd minute.
The hosts had an opportunity to reduce the deficit shortly after half-time, but Thomas Lehne Olsen missed a penalty in the 50th minute.
Orri Steinn Oskarsson made it 4-0 in the 64th minute after being set up by Goncalo Guedes. Sucic scored his second of the night in the 72nd minute, before Arsen Zakharyan completed the rout 10 minutes from time following a pass from Benat Turrientes.
The scoreline was emphatic, although the underlying figures suggested a more even contest. Lillestrøm finished with an expected-goals figure of 2.29, compared with 2.46 for Real Sociedad, while the hosts had 14 shots to the visitors’ 16.
Real Sociedad’s greater precision proved decisive. They registered eight efforts on target, while Lillestrøm managed only two, and the Spanish side had 56% possession.
Gomez’s opening European goal this season came in the defeat by Bournemouth, and his two-goal performance in Norway took him clear as Real Sociedad’s leading scorer in the competition. The data provider gave him a rating of 9.04, narrowly ahead of Sucic on 9.02.
Lillestrøm’s defeat extended their difficult start to the league phase. They had previously lost 2-1 at home to Torreense and drawn 1-1 away to Sparta Praha.
Celta also won away on matchday three, coming from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 in Glasgow through two goals from Javi Rodriguez.
Real Sociedad return to LaLiga on Sunday, 25 October, when they host Levante at Anoeta in a matchday 10 fixture kicking off at 17:30. Their next European fixtures include a visit to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 26 November and a home game against Torreense on 10 December. The league phase concludes away to Juventus on 28 January 2027.
