The first half belonged to Bournemouth’s efficiency. On 11 minutes, Justin Kluivert finished a neat move, turning in Adrien Truffert’s delivery for 0-1. A VAR check later denied Kluivert another potential strike, but the visitors soon doubled their lead anyway. At 20 minutes Rayan rose to meet Alex Scott’s cross with a precise header for 0-2. Sociedad had 53 percent possession before the break but took only four shots and landed none on target. Bournemouth, by contrast, produced seven first‑half attempts with two on target and hit the woodwork once. The xG split at halftime favored the visitors 0.55 to 0.13, underlining the value of their shot quality. Final‑third entries even leaned Bournemouth’s way before the interval, 22 to 17. It was the classic away performance: absorb, strike, and reset.

Set‑piece and crossing execution also mattered early. While Real Sociedad attempted seven first‑half crosses and connected with just one, Bournemouth delivered five of 11 with accuracy, including the key ball for Kluivert’s opener. The visitors also drew more fouls in the final third in the opening period, three to one, which helped them slow the game when needed. Two early bookings for Sociedad added to the stop‑start rhythm that suited Bournemouth. All told, the hosts trailed 0-2 at halftime with little to show for their territorial edge.

Sociedad’s second‑half surge meets a red wall

Real Sociedad came out after the break determined and it showed. They posted 70 percent possession in the second half, out‑shot Bournemouth 12 to 4, and earned eight corners to one. The pressure finally told on 57 minutes when Sergio Gómez arrived at the back post to finish Luken Beitia’s assist for 1-2. From there the Reale Arena pushed hard, but Bournemouth’s box defending stayed disciplined. The hosts put five shots on target after halftime and generated 1.38 xG in the period alone, yet the equalizer would not come. Big chances swung toward Real as well, three to one in the second half, but finishing let them down.

The shot profile explains plenty. Sociedad leaned heavily on efforts from distance, taking 10 of their 16 total shots from outside the box. Bournemouth worked better spots overall, finishing with eight of their 11 attempts inside the area. The aerial battle had favored Sociedad on the night at 60 percent overall, but clear looks remained scarce against a compact back line. Even as the hosts won more duels and dribbles after the break, the visitors read crosses and cutbacks with calm timing. The result was a wave of pressure that produced only one goal.

Delivery, clearances and small margins

Crossing accuracy drew the clearest dividing line. Real Sociedad sent in 27 crosses and completed just four at 15 percent. Bournemouth crossed 14 times and found teammates six times at 43 percent, including the assist for Kluivert and the service leading to Rayan’s header. Corners also stacked up for the hosts at 10 to three but did not translate into clean chances. Big chances ended level at three each by full time, yet Bournemouth scored two of theirs while Real Sociedad converted none. That difference decided the points.

Defensively, the visitors were relentless at clearing their lines. Bournemouth made 30 clearances to Real Sociedad’s 14, with substitute Bafodé Diakité posting six in just 27 minutes. Centre‑backs James Hill and António Silva combined for 10 clearances and two blocks, while wide players tracked runners to reduce cutbacks. The offside line held well too, catching Real Sociedad four times compared to one at the other end. In midfield, Alex Scott stitched play together with 48 passes, two key passes and the assist for 0-2, and Ryan Christie added energy from the bench. Small margins across these actions proved just enough under heavy pressure.

MVP: Đorđe Petrović’s safe pair of hands

When a match tilts toward one goal, the goalkeeper often writes the story. Đorđe Petrović did exactly that and earned a Sofascore Rating of 7.9, the highest on the pitch. He produced four saves, three from shots inside the box, and posted 0.55 goals prevented based on expected goals on target. His handling was clean and his positioning steady on set pieces. Distribution mattered too as Bournemouth sought relief; Petrović completed 21 of 35 passes and hit 10 of 24 long balls, helping the visitors breathe between waves.

He also posted 40 touches, showing how involved he was in managing the tempo when Real Sociedad locked them in. Petrović’s best sequence came during the late stretch as he parried and gathered from tight angles while traffic crowded his six‑yard box. That preserved the 2-1 edge and forced Sociedad to keep chasing crosses. In a game where the hosts created 1.51 xG to Bournemouth’s 0.78, his interventions were the bridge between numbers and result. On a night full of clearance counts and blocked lanes, the goalkeeper’s calm was the difference.