pfft easy easy easy, win all games. However don't underestimate the power of Salzburg!

ZapdosTheGreat: I won't underestimate any of them, but I certainly think we can beat them all!

ELCHE 1-1 SOCIEDAD (LA LIGA)
PRIETO
I. MARTINEZ

SOCIEDAD 2-1 ATLETICO (LA LIGA)
GRIEZMANN, I. MARTINEZ
I. MARTINEZ

After the bittersweet start to the season for Real Sociedad which involved big wins against Getafe and Schalke but ultimately exiting the Champions League on away goals, it lookas though things are finally settling down for Los Txuri-Urdin. New manager Neal Hasan has finally managed to imprint his pacy, attacking style of play on the side, and the results are now coming.

The draw against Elche was certainly a hard fought one. Xabi Prieto's first half goal looked like it would be the difference, but a 83rd minute penalty slotted home by Alberto Rivera gave Elche the late equalizer that they deserved, having outshot the visitors 12 to 6.

It was the final game of the month, however, that was most important. Atletico Madrid, fresh off of their Copa del Rey win last season and looking set to challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona this season, came to San Sebastian. The Anoeta was rocking, and Real Sociedad came out all guns blazing, scoring in the first ten minutes through Antoine Griezmann. With twenty minutes left in the match, Inigo Martinez headed home a second, ensuring that Arda Turan's late long-distance strike was no more than consolation.

Inigo Martinez has certainly been a leader for Hasan's men thus far in the season. The 21 year old Spanish center back won the Player of the Match award in each of the two aforementioned games, scoring the vital second goal that ultimately secured the victory over Atletico.

"This is a massive achievement for us," said Hasan after that match. "Obviously the lads were upset about dropping points last week, and they came out and proved today that we can play with the best teams in the country."

Just 3 games into the La Liga season, things are looking promising for Real Sociedad. Los Txuri-Urdin sit atop the league table with 7 points in their hunt to re-qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season. The full league table is as follows:


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Great start Neal :-)

Good win against Atletico, maybe should have beaten Elche, but you're top Great going so far, and fantastic updates, as normal.

Fuck logic. Can beat Atletico Madrid, but can't beat Elche. SRSLY NEAL?

TBH Elche are coming second. But they are still shit. What happened Neal?

Josh_MU: Thanks bud, hopefully we can build on this

LFC: Yeah, it was disappointing to draw Elche, but I think we really showed our spirit by bouncing back with a win against one of the top teams in the league, so there are definitely positives to take!

Pauker: I'm sorry Pauker, they played well

edu1878: Yes if Elche come second my blushes are spared

LEVANTE 0-1 SOCIEDAD (LA LIGA)
CASTRO
CASTRO

DYNAMO KYIV 0-1 SOCIEDAD (EUROPA LEAGUE)
SEFEROVIC
BRAVO

SOCIEDAD 4-3 MALAGA (LA LIGA)
SEFEROVIC (x2), VELA (x2)
VELA

BARCELONA 1-1 SOCIEDAD (LA LIGA)
GAZTANAGA
GAZTANAGA

SOCIDAD 2-1 SEVILLA (LA LIGA)
SEFEROVIC (x2)
SEFEROVIC

September is now over, and the La Liga season is properly underway. For Real Sociedad, it has been one hell of a start. The month started off with two straight scrappy 1-0 victories, the six points doing wonders for Lox Txuri-Urdin's confidence.

The 4-3 win over Malaga was certainly one of the highlights of the month. Down 2-0 at halftime, Hasan had reportedly ripped into his players and sent them back out with a vengeance. Carlos Vela and Haris Seferovic were used as a strike partnership that second half, Hasan's first venture out of his usual 4-2-3-1, and it paid dividends with both players scoring twice to salvage a stunning 4-3 win.

The 1-1 draw against Barcelona at the Camp Nou was certainly the biggest talking point, however. La Blaugrana had mustered 71% of possession but struggled immensely to break down Real Sociedad's 10 men behind the ball, but with just 7 minutes to go, Andres Iniesta broke the deadlock. Deep into injury time, though, Jon Gaztanaga's header silenced the Camp Nou faithful with a stunning equalizer, sending Neal Hasan into a frenzy on the touchline.

It has certainly been a month of emergence for both Real Sociedad and their new star striker Haris Seferovic. The Swiss international had scored 9 goals in 16 appearances for Novara last season, on loan from Fiorentina, before making the switch to San Sebastian, and now the big man is paying dividends with 5 goals this month, including two braces and a late match-winner in the Europa League.

It's not been a month of 100% positives, though. In the match against Levante, central midfielder David Zurutuza was ruled out for a month with a hamstring problem and Antoine Griezmann was ruled out a further 5-6 weeks with a serious ankle issue. Griezmann especially is a big blow for the side, and now the likes of Ruben Pardo and Gonzalo Castro will have to step up.

Following this top month for Real Sociedad, the side are hot on the tails of Real Madrid and La Liga and are paving the way in their group in the Europa League. The standings in both La Liga and the Europa League group are as follows:



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What a month! That last gasp equaliser versus Barça was been great! (Maybe not for you) And that comeback versus Malaga

Walter: Yes when I saw Gaztanaga's header find the net I quite literally jumped out of my seat! Also the comeback versus Malaga was extraordinary, could not be more proud of the team. Thanks for reading!

Fantastic month Neal, still unbeaten and going very strong!
Seems like Seferovic is performing well too, which is great to see

pompeyblue: Seferovic has been an animal in front of goal, if he keeps this up it could be a great season for us!

I couldn't believe it, to be honest. Of course Sociedad had a great team, but to be just two points shy of the top of the table after two months?! It seemed ethereal. Everything was going so perfectly, how could it be true?! Everything I'd ever dreamed of, I had...

And yet, something was missing.

Sure, I'd met a lovely Spanish woman or two in San Sebastian. The nightlife was incredible, and the people were nice, and the ladies loved me. Fame has it's benefits, I suppose. But for all that, I couldn't help but miss her a little bit, even after two months.

She'd called on my birthday, the 19th, but I'd been out for a drink with some of the other coaches in some bar in Kyiv, celebrating the day's Europa League win over Dynamo. When I finally did see the message, just listening to it...I couldn't call back.

She'd said she still loved me.

What the fuck was I supposed to say to that?!

A part of me still missed her, but that kind of drama was something I most certainly did not need in my life. There were plenty of women here who I could find that would be supportive of my football career as a manager, but...

I suppose I still did love her.

The doorbell rang. I checked my watch; 23:14. Who the hell goes to someone's door at this hour? I rubbed the tiredness from my eyes and set down my glass of merlot before stumbling over to the door. The bell rang again, twice more.

Irritated, I threw open the door. "Who the fu--."

No, it couldn't be. I froze, standing there in the doorway, watching motionless as the tears formed in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she managed to choke out before she began to sob.

Still I could not move.

"Nicole..."

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Nice update, looking forward to the next and seeing how this plays out!