Real Sociedad rout Lillestrom 6-0 in Europa League

Real Sociedad thrashed Lillestrom 6-0 at Arasen Stadion in Norway on Thursday, scoring three times before halftime and three more after the break in a one-sided Europa League league-phase match.

Sergio Gomez scored in the 25th and 27th minutes, both goals set up by captain Mikel Oyarzabal, and Luka Sucic made it 3-0 in the 33rd, again with Oyarzabal providing the final pass. The Spanish side led by three goals at the interval and never allowed the home team back into the match.

Substitute Orri Oskarsson added the fourth in the 64th minute after a fast break started by Goncalo Guedes. Sucic completed his double with a left-footed finish into the bottom corner in the 72nd, and fellow substitute Arsen Zakharyan capped the scoring in the 80th with a left-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner, set up by Benat Turrientes. A crowd of 9,657 watched in Lillestrom.

The result mattered for both clubs. Real Sociedad arrived with one point from their first two league-phase matches, the same total as Lillestrom, and head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo had acknowledged the day before that his team needed to win. Three points lift the Basque club to four, while Lillestrom stay on one.

Oskarsson’s goal came five days after his coach promised him more playing time, according to Spanish outlet El Gol Digital, and Zakharyan was the second of the two substitutes to score. Oyarzabal ended the night with three assists, one for each of the first-half goals.

It was a busy Thursday across the competition. Bournemouth beat 10-man AC Milan 3-0, Crystal Palace were held 2-2 at Besiktas and Juventus drew 2-2 with Rennes. Real Sociedad, who now have their first win of the league phase against a side from Norway, move on to the next matchday with their confidence restored.

Via ESPN and El Gol Digital.

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