The Look of a Winner

Two-time La Liga champions Real Sociedad from San Sebastian were thought of as being one of the favorites to regain promotion last year after being relegating following the 2007-2008 La Liga season. Only problem was that the Basques could never put together a run that made them promotion worthy and they were ultimately left on the outside looking in.

Granted their titles came back in the early 80's, but this was still a team that played Champions League futbol less than ten years ago. It was mildly surprising that Sociedad was left out of the mix because frankly, they are a Primera Division stalwart and should be there, not in El Infierno.

But for now, we have the pleasure of watching their passionate fans urge their boys back to victory and a rightful place in Spain's top flight so the locals can stick their chests out whenever they travel to nearby Bilbao where Athletic have never gone down.

This year Real Sociedad appear to be doing everything right so far as evidenced by their 1-3 victory this past weekend over Numancia. It's hard enough going to Los Pajaritos and getting a point, let alone three. Just ask pep Guardiola. It was Numancia who handed Barca a 1-0 defeat before the Blaugrana ripped off umpteen wins in a row and ran away with La Liga title. But still, the defending European champs weren't even able to score in Soria against Numancia, let alone win.

So Sociedad's three goals against the newly relegated side went a long ways towards experts pegging the Basques as promotion favorites this year. The club still mainly consists of Basque players with an occasional foreigner wearing the blue and white striped jersey, plus Uruguayan coach Martin Lasarte.

Everyone's favorite journeyman 'El Lobo' Abreau is now gone and playing in Greece but the core of the team are the nine players who rose up from the club's 'cantera', also known as Real Sociedad B. The leader of this group is Xabi Prieto who has been with Sociedad since 2003 when they club was coming off that second place finish in La Liga. Prieto is one of the elder statesman on the team but still one of its most dangerous playmakers including his goal against Numancia this past weekend much to the delight of the thousands that made the trip south from the Bay of Biscay.

Real Sociedad sit second just a point behind Hercules and it would not be surprisng at all to see the club end in that exact same spot come early June.


As for last week's Quiniela. Well, it was better than the previous week with five wins including my Real Sociedad pick. Also picked the Cartagena - Villarreal B tie which I'd say if fairly impressive.

One last note - first firing of the year was handed down this week. Elche bid adieu to Claudio Barragán who the club said, "was not the leader we wanted and not right for the team." Think you could have decided on that before the season started, not six weeks in?

Jornada 7 - Quiniela

Huesca - Numancia 1
R. Sociedad - Salamanca 1
Gimnástic - Levante X
Murcia - Córdoba 1
Las Palmas - Hércules 2
Elche - Recreativo X
Celta - Albacete 1
Cádiz - Cartagena 1
Villarreal B - Rayo 2
Betis - Real Unión 1
Girona - Castellón X

Clasificacion:

1. Hércules - 13
2. R. Sociedad - 12
3. Cartagena - 12
4. Betis - 11
5. Rayo - 11
6. Levante - 10
7. Numancia - 10
8. Córdoba - 10
9. Salamanca - 9
10. Recreativo - 9
11. Las Palmas - 8
12. Cádiz - 8
13. Real Unión - 7
14. Gimnástic - 7
15. Albacete - 7
16. Huesca - 6
17. Villarreal B - 6
18. Murcia - 5
19. Celta - 5
20. Girona - 4
21. Elche - 4
22. Castellón - 1