A second-half double from Imanol Agirretxe saw Real Sociedad come from behind to beat newly promoted Celta Vigo 2-1 and record their first win of the La Liga season on Saturday.
Real Sociedad bounced back from their 5-1 mauling by Barcelona with Agirretxe hitting the back of the net on 53 and 60 minutes, after Celta surprisingly took the lead following the break through Quique De Lucas.
It was nothing more than the home side deserved after they wasted a host of first-half chances and hit the woodwork three times.
Real Sociedad looked to push forward from the start with an attacking formation that included the return of Carlos Vela and Agirretxe, and the Mexican Vela was causing danger virtually every time he surged down the left wing.
Inside the opening minutes he whipped in a cross that Agirretxe just failed to divert goalwards.
The hosts really should have taken the lead after 16 minutes when Agirretxe met a corner well but his header came back off the post and then Ion Ansotegi, with the goal gaping, saw his shot from close range clip the top of the crossbar.
Ahead of the game, the main news for Celta was the debut of Danish forward Michael Krohn-Delhi, but he and De Lucas on the other wing saw little of the ball.
Celta caused their first moment of worry for the home side on the half-hour mark when Ansotegi fouled Iago Aspas on the edge of the area, but Lucas' free-kick hit the wall.
Moments later, Antoine Griezmann missed another opening for the home side with a shot that hit the woodwork and then his follow-up was blocked.
La Real were left stunned when De Lucas fired Celta into the lead after 49 minutes but it did not take them long to respond.
Agirretxe slotted home a Griezmann pass and then pounced inside the area as the ball bounced around following a cross from Vela.
Later, Real Betis -- who thrashed Athletic Bilbao 5-3 in their opening fixture -- turn their attention to Rayo Vallecano who picked up three points by scraping a 1-0 win over Granada.
Espanyol and Real Zaragoza also meet looking for their first points, and Malaga take on Real Mallorca.
La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are in action on Sunday, having contested the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Thursday, with the Catalan side leading 3-2 ahead of the second leg at the Bernabeu.
Champions Madrid are still searching for their first win of the campaign after they could only draw 1-1 at home to a Valencia side that proved difficult to break down and now coach Jose Mourinho is not underestimating derby rivals Getafe.
"I like the way they play, their system and the ideas which they put in place," he said.
"They are a balanced side who are physical and strong from set-plays. At the moment, though, I am happy with the way that we are progressing after the summer break."
Barcelona made a perfect start to life under new coach Tito Vilanova by beating Real Sociedad and they travel to Osasuna on Sunday.
Source: AFP
