Real Sociedad produced the performance of the Europa League week, thrashing Lillestrom 6-0 at the Arasen Stadion to end a four-game winless run in the competition. Sergio Gomez and Luka Sucic both scored twice, Mikel Oyarzabal created three goals in a devastating first half, and substitutes Orri Oskarsson and Arsen Zakharyan completed a rout that could have been even worse for the Norwegians.
Oyarzabal runs the first half
Lillestrom actually started the brighter side. Thomas Lehne Olsen swept a shot just over inside the opening minute and Yaw Paintsil dragged another effort wide, and for 25 minutes the home crowd believed an upset was possible.
Then Oyarzabal took the game away from them. The Sociedad captain picked out Gomez, who fired into the top corner for the opener, and two minutes later the same pair combined again, Oyarzabal cutting the ball back for Gomez to finish with his right foot. Incredibly, Oyarzabal completed a hat-trick of assists on 33 minutes, feeding Sucic to put Pellegrino Matarazzo's side 3-0 up and in complete cruise control before half-time, as Flashscore's match report recorded.
A missed penalty, then three more goals
Lillestrom were handed a lifeline five minutes after the restart when Jon Martin fouled Gustav Nyheim in the box. Olsen stepped up, but Unai Marrero guessed correctly and pushed the penalty away — and with it went the hosts' last real hope, even though Ibrahimaj later rattled the crossbar from range.
Sociedad showed no mercy. Goncalo Guedes crossed for substitute Oskarsson to tap home his second goal in as many appearances on 64 minutes, Sucic grabbed his second eight minutes later as the ball fell kindly to him in the box, and Zakharyan — on for Sucic — completed the scoring on 80 minutes. The final numbers were emphatic: 16 shots to 14, eight on target to two, and a scoreline that matched the five goals Sociedad scored at Malaga in La Liga last weekend.
So what: Sociedad are alive, Lillestrom are sinking
The win transforms Sociedad's league-phase picture. Winless in Europe before Thursday, they now have real momentum and a goal difference transformed by one night in Norway. Next up in Europe they host Lyon on Matchday 4, on Thursday 5 November — and Lyon arrive wounded after being dismantled 3-0 by Hoffenheim on the same night.
Lillestrom, by contrast, are still searching for a first win and host Viktoria Plzen next in a game that already looks must-win. On a night when Bournemouth beat AC Milan 3-0 to stay perfect, Sociedad's six-goal statement was the biggest winning margin of the round — the full schedule is in UEFA's league-phase round-up.
Beyond the Final Whistle: this was a warning to the rest of the Europa League. A side with Oyarzabal creating at this level, Gomez arriving from left-back to score twice and a bench that adds goals is far better than its early European results suggested — Sociedad did not just win in Norway, they announced themselves as contenders. Can Real Sociedad go all the way in the Europa League this season? Let us know in the comments.
