SAN SEBASTIáN. Real Sociedad beats Benfica 3-1. Real Sociedad was just to good to grab a decisive 3-0 lead with Mikel Merino (6′), Mikel Oyarzabal (11′) and Ander Barrenetxea (21′). Benfica reduced the distance with a goal (49′) by Rafa, but there was not much to do for them. Real Sociedad took advantage of its superior ball possession (56%).

Brais Méndez squandered a penalty (29′) for Real Sociedad.​

The match was played at the Reale Arena stadium in San Sebastián on Wednesday and it started at 6:45 pm local time. In front of 36,815 spectators.​ The referee was Anthony Taylor assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn. The 4th official was Robert Jones. The weather was light rain. The temperature was pleasant at 16.2 degrees Celsius or 61.16 Fahrenheit. The humidity was 55%.​

Match Statistics​

Real Sociedad

3 - 1

Benfica

  • 56 Ball Possession 44
Shots
  • 17 Total 11
  • 7 On Target 4
  • 6 Off Target 3
  • 4 Shots blocked 4
  • 123 Attack 72
  • 60 Dangerous attack 45
  • 62 Ball safe 73
  • 1 Penalties 0
  • 10 Corners 3
  • 2 Off Sides 2
Fouls
  • 17 Total 8
  • 2 Yellow Cards 1
  • 0 Double Yellow 0
  • 0 Red Card 0
Other
  • 4 Substitutions 5

Ball possession

Real Sociedad was in firm control of the ball 56% while Benfica was struggling with a 44% ball possession.

Attitude and shots

Real Sociedad had a more offensive attitude with 60 dangerous attacks and 17 shots of which 7 were on target. This is one of the reasons why Real Sociedad won the match​.

Real Sociedad shot 17 times, 7 on target, 6 off target. On the opposite side, Benfica shot 11 times, 4 on target, 3 off target.

Cards

Real Sociedad received 2 yellow cards (Carlos Fernández and Ander Barrenetxea). Talking about the opposition, Benfica received 1 yellow card (Florentino).

Match Timeline

Mikel Merino(goal)Aihen Muñoz
6'
Mikel Oyarzabal(goal)
11'
Mikel Merino(VAR)
15'
20'
Florentino- Yellow
Ander Barrenetxea (goal)Mikel Merino
21'
Brais Méndez- missed penaltyBrais Méndez
29'
31'
49'
Rafa(goal)Nicolás Otamendi
Ander Barrenetxea - Yellow
62'
64'
Carlos Fernández - sub ->Takefusa Kubo
70'
Beñat Turrientes- sub ->Brais Méndez
70'
Arsen Zakharyan- sub ->Ander Barrenetxea
78'
85'
Álvaro Odriozola- sub ->Aritz Elustondo
86'
85'
85'
Casper Tengstedt- sub ->Ángel Di María
Carlos Fernández - Yellow
86'

Standings

Standings

Group A

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
FC Bayern München
16
6
FC Copenhagen
8
6
Galatasaray
5
6
Manchester United
4
6

Group B

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
Arsenal
13
6
PSV
9
6
Lens
8
6
Sevilla
2
6

Group C

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
Real Madrid
18
6
Napoli
10
6
Sporting Braga
4
6
FC Union Berlin
2
6

Group D

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
Real Sociedad
12
6
Inter
12
6
Benfica
4
6
Salzburg
4
6

Group E

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
Atlético Madrid
14
6
Lazio
10
6
Feyenoord
6
6
Celtic
4
6

Group F

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
Borussia Dortmund
11
6
Paris Saint Germain
8
6
Milan
8
6
Newcastle United
5
6

Group G

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
Manchester City
18
6
RB Leipzig
12
6
Young Boys
4
6
Crvena Zvezda
1
6

Group H

Team
Pts
Pl
Last 5
FC Barcelona
12
6
Porto
12
6
Shakhtar Donetsk
9
6
Antwerp
3
6

After this encounter, Real Sociedad will have 10 points like Inter to hold in the 1st place. On the opposite side, Benfica will stay with 0 points to sit in the 4th place.

Next matches

Real Sociedad – Formation

Real Sociedad
G
Álex Remiro 1.Spain
6.7
D
Aihen Muñoz 3.Spain
7.3
D
Igor Zubeldia 5.Spain
7.3
D
Aritz Elustondo 6.Spain
7.1
86'
D
Robin Le Normand 24.Spain
6.7
M
Ander Barrenetxea 7.Spain
7.7
78' 62' 21'
M
Martín Zubimendi 4.Spain
7.3
M
Mikel Merino 8.Spain
8.7
6'
M
Brais Méndez 23.Spain
6.7
70'
F
Takefusa Kubo 14.Japan
7.1
70'
F
Mikel Oyarzabal 10.Spain
7.9
11'
Substitutes
G
Gaizka Ayesa 30.Spain
G
Unai Marrero 32.Spain
D
Álvaro Odriozola 2.Spain
6.7
86'
D
Urko González de Zarate 26.Spain
M
Arsen Zakharyan 12.Russia
6.4
78'
M
Jon Ander Olasagasti 16.Spain
M
Beñat Turrientes 22.Spain
7.0
70'
M
Jon Magunazelaia 28.Spain
M
Pablo Marín 29.Spain
F
Umar Sadiq 19.Nigeria
F
Carlos Fernández 9.Spain
6.8
70' 86'
F
Mohamed-Ali Cho 11.France

Real Sociedad started with a aggressive line-up (4-3-3).

The manager Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea decided to play with the following team: Álex Remiro (6.7), Aritz Elustondo (7.1), Igor Zubeldia (7.3), Robin Le Normand (6.7), Aihen Muñoz (7.3), Brais Méndez (6.7), Martín Zubimendi (7.3), Mikel Merino (8.7), Takefusa Kubo (7.1), Mikel Oyarzabal (7.9) and Ander Barrenetxea (7.7).

The home team had on the bench: Carlos Fernández (6.8), Mohamed-Ali Cho, Álvaro Odriozola (6.7), Arsen Zakharyan (6.4), Jon Ander Olasagasti, Umar Sadiq, Beñat Turrientes (7.0), Urko González, Jon Magunazelaia, Pablo Marín, Gaizka Ayesa and Unai Marrero.

Substitutions

Real Sociedad made 4 changes: Takefusa Kubo for Carlos Fernández (70′), Brais Méndez for Beñat Turrientes (70′), Ander Barrenetxea for Arsen Zakharyan (78′) and Aritz Elustondo for Álvaro Odriozola (86′).

Best player: Mikel Merino​

The most impressive player for Real Sociedad was Mikel Merino.

His rating is (8.7) with 1 goal, 56 passes (76% accurate) and 2 key passes. He was won 12 duels out of 21.

Benfica – Formation

Benfica
G
Anatoliy Trubin 1.Ukraine
6.8
D
António Silva 4.Portugal
7.0
D
Morato 5.Brazil
7.0
D
Nicolás Otamendi 30.Argentina
7.1
M
Fredrik Aursnes 8.Norway
6.3
M
João Mário 20.Portugal
6.4
85'
M
Florentino 61.Portugal
5.8
31' 20'
M
João Neves 87.Portugal
7.5
F
Arthur Cabral 9.Brazil
7.1
64'
F
Ángel Di María 11.Argentina
7.1
85'
F
Rafa 27.Portugal
7.5
85' 49'
Substitutes
G
Samuel Soares 24.Portugal
G
L. Kokubo 45.Japan
D
David Jurásek 13.Czech Republic
6.6
31'
D
João Victor 38.Brazil
D
Tomás Araújo 44.Portugal
M
Chiquinho 22.Portugal
6.3
85'
F
Gonçalo Guedes 17.Portugal
6.4
85'
F
Casper Tengstedt 19.Denmark
6.6
85'
F
Petar Musa 33.Croatia
6.8
64'
F
Tiago Gouveia 47.Portugal

Benfica started with an extremely aggressive line-up (3-4-3).

Roger Schmidt played with: Anatoliy Trubin (6.8), António Silva  (7.0), Nicolás Otamendi (7.1), Morato (7.0), João Neves (7.5), Florentino (5.8), João Mário (6.4), Fredrik Aursnes (6.3), Ángel Di María (7.1), Arthur Cabral (7.1) and Rafa (7.5).

The following players were sitting on the bench: David Jurásek (6.6), Gonçalo Guedes (6.4), Casper Tengstedt (6.6), Chiquinho (6.3), Samuel Soares, Petar Musa (6.8), João Victor, Tomás Araújo, Léo Kokubo and Tiago Gouveia.

Substitutions

Benfica made 5 changes: Florentino for David Jurásek (31′), João Mário for Chiquinho (85′), Arthur Cabral for Petar Musa (64′), Ángel Di María for Casper Tengstedt (85′) and Rafa for Gonçalo Guedes (85′).

Best player: Rafa​

As per our analysis, the most impressive player for Benfica was Rafa.

His rating is (7.5) with 1 goal, 25 passes (76% accurate) and 0 key passes. He was won 7 duels out of 19. He performed 1 cross.

Results of the day

These are the results of the day in the Champions League.​