Real Sociedad vs. Atletico Madrid: Score and Reaction from La Liga Game

Manager-less Real Sociedad moved out of the relegation zone in La Liga with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Atletico Madrid on Sunday evening.

Sociedad picked up just their second win of the campaign—the other having come against European champions Real Madrid—thanks to Imanol Agirretxe's late headed winner after Carlos Vela had earlier cancelled out Mario Mandzukic's 10th-minute opener for the reigning Spanish champions.

Atletico spent almost 40 minutes with only 10 men after full-back Guilherme Siqueira was sent off after picking up two silly yellow cards in almost as many minutes. Diego Simeone can have few complaints about the defeat, however, with Sociedad perhaps unlucky not to be awarded at least one penalty over the course of the contest.

It took Atletico just 10 minutes to take the lead at Anoeta, at which point it looked like they would cruise to three points against one of the league's struggling sides. Mandzukic grabbed the goal, the striker firing home emphatically after being played in by Raul Garcia.

It would be just about the Croatian's only tangible contribution, however, bar a poor challenge on Vela inside the box that left the Mexican bloodied and perhaps should have resulted in a penalty.

Sociedad responded within five minutes, much to their credit, and it was Vela with the strike. It was a fine effort almost entirely of the winger's own making, as he cut inside before hitting a low strike from the edge of the box that crept inside Miguel Moya's far post.

Sociedad thought they had taken the lead soon after, but fantastic tracking from Diego Godin saw the centre-back clear Agirretxe's attempt off the line after the forward had rounded Moya expertly.

As it turned out, the home side had to wait to finally clinch the victory. Its cause was helped by Siqueira, who came out after half-time and found himself heading back to the dugout almost immediately. His first challenge, against Xabi Prieto, was silly but forgivable, but the second was less so, the ex-Benfica man sent down the tunnel as he scythed down the influential Vela.

That gave Sociedad the upper hand, but it took them until the final 10 minutes for them to exploit it to a winning end. In the end it was Agirretxe, deservedly so, who grabbed the goal, the striker slipping in front of Miranda to power substituted Joseba Zaldua's inswinging cross inside Moya's near post.

Simeone reacted immediately, throwing on ex-Sociedad man Antoine Griezmann as Atletico tried to grab an equaliser in the dying moments of the game. But Sociedad held firm and duly picked up the victory, delivering them a much-needed three points.

The win puts the Basque side 15th in the table with 11 points. Atletico remain on 23 points, four adrift of league leaders Real Madrid.

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

What's Next?

Atletico Madrid now have two weeks until they host Malaga at the Vicente Calderon. Real Sociedad are scheduled to visit the Riazor the same day to face Deportivo La Coruna.