Real Sociedad beats Elche 3-1 as Sucic opens scoring before injury exit

Real Sociedad secured a 3-1 win over Elche CF at the Reale Arena on February 7, extending their push for European qualification while leaving the visitors sliding deeper into trouble near the bottom of La Liga.

Luka Sucic got the hosts rolling with a left-footed finish in the 24th minute, but his evening lasted only five more minutes before a muscular injury forced him off. Sociedad didn’t blink. Mikel Oyarzabal doubled the lead before halftime, and Orri Steinn Oskarsson added a third in the 89th minute to put the result beyond doubt.

A tale of two halves (sort of)

Sucic’s opener came courtesy of a Gonçalo Guedes assist, a well-constructed move that rewarded Sociedad’s early pressure in front of roughly 30,000 fans at Anoeta. The Croatian midfielder’s departure in the 29th minute could have disrupted the home side’s rhythm, but manager Pellegrino Matarazzo’s squad proved deeper than one player.

Oyarzabal made it 2-0 in the 37th minute, pouncing on a defensive error from an Elche backline. Elche, to their credit, didn’t roll over. André Silva pulled one back in the 42nd minute, heading into the break at 2-1. Then Oskarsson ended the suspense with his 89th-minute goal, restoring the two-goal cushion and killing off any late Elche hopes.

What the result means for both clubs

For Real Sociedad, the victory pushed their points total to 31 through Matchweek 23 of La Liga EA Sports. The concern, naturally, is Sucic himself. Muscular injuries are the kind of vague diagnosis that can mean anything from a week on the sideline to a month.

Elche’s freefall continues

The view from Elche’s side of this result is considerably bleaker. This defeat marked their third consecutive loss, a run of form that has them hovering precariously above the relegation zone. Manager Eder Sarabia’s squad has collected just two points from a possible 21 in 2026. Two points from seven matches is the kind of run that gets managers fired and sporting directors called into emergency meetings.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.