Real Sociedad ended their three-game winless streak in LaLiga with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sevilla at the Reale Arena, thanks to a brace from captain Mikel Oyarzabal.

Determined to silence their critics after a difficult run of form, Sociedad were handed an early chance to take control when Fábio Cardoso handled the ball in the box after 19 minutes. Oyarzabal stepped up and confidently converted from the spot to give La Real the lead.

Their advantage didn’t last long. On the half-hour mark, Gabriel Suazo’s curling free-kick found Nemanja Gudelj, whose first-time strike deflected past Álex Remiro to bring Sevilla level — much to the frustration of home manager Sergio Francisco.

However, Sociedad responded impressively just six minutes later. A scrappy exchange inside the penalty area saw the ball break kindly for Oyarzabal, who turned sharply and fired low into the bottom corner for his second of the night, restoring the hosts’ lead before half-time.

That goal marked only Sociedad’s third first-half strike of the season — a sign of renewed sharpness in front of goal — while Sevilla’s defensive frailties continued, having now conceded two or more goals in six league matches this campaign.

The second half offered little in the way of attacking drama, with neither side managing a shot on target. Sociedad, however, showed strong game management and defensive discipline to protect their narrow advantage and claim a much-needed win.

The result lifts La Real out of the relegation zone and up to 14th, while Sevilla miss the chance to move into the European spots, remaining ninth. For Sociedad, the performance and result could represent a vital turning point in their bid to revive their season.