The Basque word ‘Osasuna’ means strength, something which has certainly been translated onto the pitch for Los Rojillos with the side just eight days away from a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
There was little such steel on display in the opening minutes here though, as Sociedad, a side with their own lofty ambitions, drove straight at the heart of their hosts. Their incessant pressure saw Osasuna’s dams burst within seven minutes when goalkeeper Sergio Herrera turned Ander Barrenetxea’s cross into his own net.
The early goal made for a fascinating battle and the hosts had fully composed themselves by the time Kike Garcia flashed his effort narrowly wide.
Perhaps blunted by the absence of the suspended Ez Abde, Osasuna struggled to sustain their attacks on the Sociedad box. However, it was the visitors who remained most dangerous before half-time with young striker Momo, who was substituted at the break, spurning several chances to extend his side’s lead.
Whatever Jagoba Arrasate said at the break must have had an effect as Osasuna’s laid siege to their visitors’ penalty box, though they were unable to turn their improvements into a goal before the hour mark with Aimar Oroz firing their best chance over the crossbar.
An ice-cool Sociedad appeared to be uninterested in an end-to-end affair and succeeded in slowing the tempo before bringing Alexander Sorloth and Takefusa Kubo into the contest.
That substitution nearly paid immediate dividends for Imanol Algaucil’s side when Sorloth stormed past Juan Cruz before delivering an inch-perfect cross, which Mikel Oyarzabal failed to convert.
Despite the Norwegian impressing in his short cameo, ex-Manchester City stalwart David Silva was the key to Sociedad’s controlled display.
Silva's classy performance saw him roundly applauded upon his late substitution with his side sailing to victory as Kubo added a late cherry on top of a successful evening’s work with a composed finish from inside the box.
Flashscore Man of the Match: David Silva (Real Sociedad)