Real Sociedad keep up top four march after seeing off relegation-threatened Getafe
Sociedad were hoping to return to winning ways against a Getafe side also desperate for a victory, in order to extend their three-point gap to the relegation zone.
The hosts had won just once in their last six LaLiga games and they started the game like a side short of confidence, failing to even have a shot despite dominating the ball for the first half-hour.
The end of the first half ended dramatically when Mikel Oyarzabal was fouled by Djene Dakonam in the area.
After a pitchside VAR review, referee Mario Melero Lopez swiftly pointed to the spot, Oyarzabal confidently stepped up only to see his weak effort easily saved by Getafe goalkeeper David Soria.
To the Spaniard’s credit, he was undeterred by the miss and three minutes later he found himself on the scoresheet when he turned in Brais Mendez’s rebounded effort, to give his side a slender lead at the break.
The hosts were unbeaten in all but one of their last nine matches at the Reale Arena, and their good run of form looked set to continue when Mikel Merino picked out Takefusa Kubo with a low cross that was turned in with a fine first-time strike, as Kubo netted his sixth goal of the season.
Now with a mountain to climb to get back into the game, Getafe carved out their best chance through Borja Mayoral, as he tested Alex Remiro at his near post but the Sociedad keeper did well to turn his effort round the post.
Imanol Alguacil’s men tightened up as the threat of a fightback grew, and their staunch rearguard saw out the win to claim a fourth consecutive home clean sheet.
Defeat for the visitors leaves them just three points clear of the drop zone, with four of their six relegation rivals still yet to play this weekend.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)