Celta Vigo earned a point at the Anoeta on Saturday thanks to a late Nolito equaliser which cancelled out Imanol Agirretxe's opener.
Celta started on the front foot with Santi Mina looking lively but it was Sociedad who took the lead in the eighth minute. Zaldua found Esteban Granero on the right and he got past his man before putting in a high cross to the back post. Xabi Prieto met the ball and cushined a header into the six yard box which was met by Imanol Agirretxe who headed home past Sergio Alvarez. Celta had a chance to equalise five minutes later when Santi Mina found himself unmarked at a corner but he put his header wide of Geronimo Rulli's left hand post.
A minute later it was Sociedad's turn to miss a good opportunity to make it 2-0. A good one touch passing move from La Real saw Gonzalo Castro get free on the left wing and he put a lovely ball between the Celta defenders and into the path of Agirretxe who struck first time on the volley but he was unable to find a corner and his shot went straight at Alvarez. Celta were enjoying a lot of possession but they were struggling to make an impact in the final third and Sociedad were able to comfortably keep them at bay until half time.
The second half started in a similar fashion with much of the game played in the midfield area and little created but Celta did create an opening on fifty-five minutes. Sergi Gomez got free on the right and his cross found Santi Mina in the box who tried an ambitious volley but Rulli was able to make the save. Celta continued to have possession but they were still struggling to create clear openings and Gustavo Cabral had a chance with a header and Nolito had a shot from range but neither effort was on target.
Celta's persistence was rewarded or La Real's lack of ambition was punished depending on how you look at it on eighty-five minutes with an equalising goal. Theo Bongonda picked up the ball on the left and found Nolito about fifteen yards from goal. Nolito took a touch which took him away from goal but he managed to get a low shot away with his right foot that went past Rulli and into the bottom corner.
The goal was no more than Celta deserved in a game they at least tried to take to Sociedad. David Moyes side got the early lead and were content to try to play the role of spoilers but they were unable to see it through and the game ended 1-1.
It was far from a classic and it is likely we will see a lot more of these performances from La Real as Moyes continues to set up his side in a way that makes them tough to beat. Celta can take positives from the game after being behind for so long and it is four points from two games after a bad spell and their freefall seems to have halted. The game itself though was far from memorable and a point apiece was probably the right result.