In a first half that was cagey from start to finish, neither side was able to establish itself as the dominant force.
Such was the apparent sense of mutual apathy, the opening goal almost came out of a goalkeeping mistake, with Brais Mendez’s looping free-kick catching Cadiz shot-stopper Jeremias Ledesma off his line. But much to the visiting ’keeper’s relief, Mendez’s shot rebounded fortuitously off the top of the crossbar.
Seeking three points to help consolidate their position in the top four, Real Sociedad stepped up their endeavours in search of a victory early in the second half.
As a result, an opening goal almost arrived thereafter, when Mikel Oyarzabal came within inches of connecting to Takefusa Kubo’s clipped cross into the penalty area. Regardless, the home side struggled to capitalise and ultimately found high-quality chances hard to come by.
At the opposite end, the visitors came close to an opener themselves, with Roger Marti hitting the post from close range, having rounded goalkeeper Alex Remiro in the process. Despite the acute angle, the Elche loanee was left ruing what turned out to be his side’s only real sight of goal all evening.
A whopping 11 minutes were added on at the end of an uninspiring 90, but try as the home crowd might to motivate their listless heroes, Cadiz were permitted to hold out with relative ease for their top-flight first point at Sociedad since February 1991.
By the time next season rolls around, a decade will have passed since Champions League football last returned to the Estadio de Anoeta, but with showings like this, Real Sociedad may be forced to wait even longer. The hosts may have had over 70% of the ball, but a night of wasteful half-chances did little to inspire the Real Sociedad faithful.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)
