The Estadio de la Cerámica was rocking on Friday, March 20, 2026, as Villarreal delivered a first-half masterclass to dismantle Real Sociedad 3-1. The victory was a significant milestone for Marcelino’s side, marking their first La Liga double over the Basques since the 2016/17 season.
With this win, the "Yellow Submarine" leapfrogs Atletico Madrid to sit third in the table, putting immense pressure on Diego Simeone ahead of Sunday’s Madrid Derby.
The First-Half Hurricane
Villarreal didn't just start the game; they overwhelmed it. Within 25 minutes, the contest was effectively over thanks to a ruthless display of finishing.
The Icon Strikes: Gerard Moreno opened the scoring in just the 7th minute, rising highest to meet a corner with a clinical near-post header. It was his 8th league goal of a stellar campaign.
The Poacher’s Instinct: Eight minutes later, Georges Mikautadze was in the right place at the right time. After Alex Remiro blocked a Moreno effort, the Georgian striker pounced to poke home the rebound.
Pepe’s Solo Magic: In the 23rd minute, Nicolas Pépé reminded everyone of his world-class ceiling. He picked up the ball near the halfway line, drove past two defenders, and saw his deflected effort bobble past a helpless Remiro.
Match Breakdown: Control vs. Chaos
Real Sociedad dominated possession in the second half (finishing with 75% overall), but they lacked the cutting edge to break down Villarreal’s disciplined low block.
Goal!!! (Villarreal) ⚽,7',Gerard Moreno.
Goal!!! (Villarreal) ⚽,15',G. Mikautadze.
Goal!!! (Villarreal) ⚽,23'.
Goal!!! (Sociedad) ⚽,47',Luka Sučić.
Disallowed Goal ❌,74',Orri Óskarsson.
The UCL Race: Standing Room Only
This result leaves Real Sociedad stuck in 7th place, six points adrift of the top five. For Villarreal, the dream of a podium finish is very much alive.
They have turned the Ceramica into a fortress, winning 12 of their 15 home games this season, with their only losses coming against Barcelona and Real Madrid.