Escandell's heroics and Dendoncker's clinical finish: Oviedo shocks Real Sociedad

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 20/100. A masterclass in defensive discipline sees Oviedo convert one clear chance into three vital points, while Real Sociedad's dominance crumbles against a goalkeeper playing the match of his season.

Intensity overwhelms balance at the Carlos Tartiere

The intensity never wavered at the Carlos Tartiere. From kickoff, this was a crunch match with stakes written across every tackle, every clearance, every set-piece. Real Sociedad arrived as the possession masters (57%), firing 18 shots into the Oviedo half, yet found themselves undone by a team that understood the assignment: survive and strike.

Leander Dendoncker was the clinical finisher Oviedo needed. In the 40th minute, the midfielder struck with precision after Haissem Hassan had provided the assist—the substitute who entered at the 31-minute mark and immediately injected chaos into Real Sociedad's rhythm. That single goal became the tournament's most valuable commodity: a 1-0 lead in a six-pointer.

Real Sociedad's response was relentless. Eleven corners, six shots on target, an xG of 1.10 screaming for justice. But standing between chaos and capitulation was Aarón Escandell. The Oviedo goalkeeper delivered a performance for the ages—six saves that ranged from routine to acrobatic, each one a brick in an impenetrable wall. When Real Sociedad's dominance demanded goals, Escandell demanded respect.

Oviedo's efficiency was surgical. Eight shots total, one on target, yet that single opportunity was converted with the precision of a team fighting for survival. The balance was skewed, the upset factor real, but the result unmistakable. Hassan's two key passes from the bench proved that sometimes the game is won not by possession, but by knowing exactly when to strike. Three points that could define Oviedo's season.