Oyarzabal: Sociedad's Late Collapse Cost Us a Point

Mikel Oyarzabal lamented that Real Sociedad could not hold on longer in the match, conceding three goals after the hour mark — and, coincidentally or not, after he was substituted — which prevented the team from taking at least a point. The captain thanked Cucurella for his gesture during the World Cup champion tribute and acknowledged the applause from the Bernabéu crowd. Oyarzabal analyzed what happened at the Bernabéu: "We had a very good first half, or up to an hour, competing toe-to-toe with Madrid, putting them in trouble, taking the ball off them, but if you're not there for the ninety-odd minutes the match lasts, it doesn't help you.

What was missing? Maybe creating a bit more, having more courage to generate chances and not conceding so much. The txuriurdin captain is clear that, after two very difficult away trips to Betis and Real Madrid without points, Real must take all three in Saturday's game against Espanyol.

"Yes, we knew they were going to be complicated matches. I think the other day, without playing a bad game, the points slipped away, and today I think we could have gotten something too, but it's time to turn the page and take the three points at home, with our people. Oyarzabal was pleased with the Bernabéu's applause for him as a World Cup champion at the start of the match, during the tribute to Cucurella, who asked him to join in. I'm grateful, it was 'Cucu's' moment, happy for him, he deserves it.