Gonzalez bags brace as Atleti outlast Real Sociedad in topsy-turvy encounter

[p][b]The match between the two Copa del Rey finalists was brought to life as early as the fifth minute as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atlético Madrid[/a]’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sorloth-alexander/QwqgNkTP/"]Alexander Sorloth[/a] volleyed home the opener against his old club. [/b][/p][p][b]Just a few minutes later, however, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-sociedad/jNvak2f3/"]Real Sociedad[/a] were on level terms as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/soler-carlos/tSYxgDUI/"]Carlos Soler[/a] rifled a left-footed missile into the top corner. The game continued at a frenetic pace, with a number of half-chances going begging at both ends.[/b][/p][p]As the match started to settle down, La Real’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/herrera-yangel/tzwJ3As6/"]Yangel Herrera[/a] was guilty of misplacing multiple passes, but Atleti were unable to take advantage.[/p][p]Ademola Lookman was a thorn in the side of the visitors, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simeone-giuliano/IJTJu41i/"]Giuliano Simeone[/a] wouldn’t give Sociedad’s defence any peace, though their aims weren’t true for the most part. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oskarsson-orri-steinn/K2gCwDJE/"]Orri Oskarsson[/a] offered nothing as an attacking outlet at the other end, whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sucic-luka/p6f9CgsE/"]Luka Sucic[/a]’s superb stoppage-time run and shot deserved a goal; however, 1-1 at half-time flattered La Real.[/p][image alt="Atletico Madrid - Real Sociedad match stats" id="6c44901f-3106-4c69-8bba-d26f067f42aa" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="6005e5ac-0cb1-4dee-b018-92dd83e3d8a8" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/remiro-alejandro/UmDjbtRC/"]Alex Remiro[/a]’s ball-juggling almost cost Sociedad right at the start of the second half, before Diego Simeone decided to make a triple substitution to freshen things up for the hosts before the hour. [/p][p][b]The visitors made two of their own, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guedes-goncalo/pORMn6gO/"]Goncalo Guedes[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oyarzabal-mikel/dQ1P695O/"]Mikel Oyarzabal[/a] offering an immediate threat. Sorloth whizzed an effort just over as Atleti pushed hard, before Nico Gonzalez somehow missed the target from 10 yards out.[/b][/p][p][b]The Argentinian quickly redeemed himself as he side-footed home after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griezmann-antoine/OxCa1jdT/"]Antoine Griezmann[/a]’s sublime back-heel assist, but just two minutes later, Oyarzabal hammered a piledriver into the top corner to restore parity once more. [/b][/p][p][b]With 10’ to play, Gonzalez headed Atleti back in front with a towering header from the penalty spot. [/b][/p][embed guid="01f7507a-e4de-45ab-972e-23552824e2ee" url="https://x.com/atletienglish/status/2030365974617026862" social-type="twitter" /][p]The goal was enough to win the game for the hosts, and a third successive victory for Atlético Madrid kept them firmly in third place in LaLiga, whilst the loss was only Real Sociedad’s second in the last 11 Spanish top-flight games.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gonzalez-nicolas-ivan/filNjPIq/"]Nico Gonzalez[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico Madrid[/a])[/b][/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="48d7f697-d56b-4795-9c53-748b1629b65c" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="7475e3e6-3063-422b-bfc9-5edbb0b5c62e" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/real-sociedad-jNvak2f3/summary/stats/?mid=MmKFFMU1"]Check out all the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]