Boye's Spot-Kick Delivers Alavés a Lifeline Against Possession-Dominant Sociedad

À Éviter Score Futmetrix: 24/100. A late first-half penalty transforms Alavés' defensive resilience into a hard-earned victory against a Real Sociedad side that controlled the game but couldn't convert dominance into goals.

The Intensity of Precision Timing

Penalties are football's cruelest judges. In the 45+4th minute, Alavés struck when L. Boye converted from twelve yards, a moment of ruthless efficiency that arrived as the match's Intensity peaked. The hosts, commanding just 38% possession, flipped the script entirely. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad orchestrated a masterclass in control—555 passes at 84% accuracy—yet their territorial dominance evaporated in the final third. The numbers told a story of superiority that the scoreline refused to acknowledge.

Remiro's Heroics Keep Sociedad Afloat

Ángel Remiro became Real Sociedad's lifeline, producing two decisive interventions that prevented a rout. His 8.3 rating masked a night where his team needed more than brilliance—they needed clinical finishing. With just one shot on target from 10 attempts, Sociedad's xG of 1.01 underscored their wastefulness. Sergio Gómez provided three key passes from defense, a rare bright spot in a visiting attack that repeatedly found itself suffocated by Alavés' compact shape.

Set-Piece Pressure and the Balance Shift

The match's Intensity crystallized through aerial bombardment: 12 combined corners created constant jeopardy. Alavés, despite their possession deficit, generated 14 shots (3 on target) with an xG of 1.43, proving that defensive discipline and transition efficiency can rival possession-based dominance. Real Sociedad's inability to break through exposed a familiar weakness—when control doesn't translate to clinical execution, the Balance tips toward the opportunistic. The penalty in first-half stoppage time wasn't just a goal; it was a psychological earthquake that left the visitors chasing a ghost for 45 minutes.