Rayo Vallecano travelled to Real Sociedad on Monday looking for their third consecutive victory in La Liga.
An uneventful first period burst into life after 31 minutes when Carlos Vela scored twice in two minutes to hand the home side a 2-0 lead at the interval.
Rayo pushed for their opener in the early stages of the second period, but Carlos Martinez and Chori Castro added Sociedad's third and fourth to wrap up the points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! Week twelve in La Liga is completed as Sociedad host an ever-inconsistent Vallecano outfit this evening. Neither of these sides are particularly keen on defending and therefore I expect an open match tonight.
It has been a real mixed bag for Sociedad this season, although they have struggled for form in recent weeks. They managed to win three of their first seven games in the league, but just one point arrived from the next four games.
Victory over Malaga last time out has handed the home side confidence and with relegation-threatened Osasuna to come next Friday, two wins could elevate them up the table.
We are just awaiting final confirmation of the team news for both sides. Taking a look at the away side, Vallecano recorded back-to-back victories at the start of the campaign against Granada and Real Betis before drawing with Sevilla. Although they managed just one win from their next six matches.
Teams:
Real Sociedad: Bravo; De la Bella, Berridi, Gonzalez, Martinez; Illarramendi, Gutierre; Castro, Vela, Prieto; Ifran
Rayo Vallecano: Cobeno; Tito, Galvez, Labaka, Casado; Trashorras, Fuego; Piti, Dominguez, Carlos; Leo
So there are the two teams. Meanwhile, as mentioned, Rayo have won their last two in the league and are the type of side that can pull off the unexpected. Many people have adopted Rayo as their second team this season because of their entertaining style. I am sure that their fans would rather be boring and win 1-0!
Sociedad boss Phillipe Montanier has urged his side not to let last weekend’s win over Malaga go to waste and their hopes this evening could rest on the shoulders of Carlos Vela. The Mexican has yet to hit the heights of last season, but is capable of producing the unexpected.
Right we are just over five minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in Spain. I am backing a home win in this match. 2-1 Sociedad.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch. There are a lot of serious faces among them. Both of these sides could really do with the three points.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Let's get this La Liga clash underway.
Here we go then. Vallecano get us underway as Piti finds Labaka in defence. However, his searching pass towards Leo is too long and Claudio Bravo clears the danger.
CHANCE! Sociedad have the ball in the back of the net as Ifran converts from close range, but the striker is ruled to have handled in the build up and picks up a yellow card for his troubles. Explosive start to this match.
It's bright work from the away side as Piti combines with Trashorras before the latter releases Dominguez, but the midfielder just cannot collect and Bravo restarts with a goal kick. Both sides look like they have come to play.
Both sides continue to exchange periods of possession in the early stages. Ifran and Pardo look the biggest dangers for the home side after six minutes of football. Meanwhile, Vallecano continue to look for the ever-willing Leo.
It's really bright work from the home side as De la Bella finds Chori with a 40-yard pass, but Casado pulls the midfielder to the ground. The free kick from Pardo is disappointing and straight into the Vallecano wall.
Sociedad continue to threaten in wide areas as Vela collects a long pass before being chopped down by Jose Carlos and the midfielder is booked. However, once more Chori's free kick is straight into the wall.
Real end-to-end stuff at the moment as Dominguez comes close with an effort for Rayo before Vela is dispossessed in an advanced position down the other end.
Half-chance once more for the home side as Ifran collects possession outside the box, but his effort is wide of the target and Cobeno restarts the play with a goal kick.
Sociedad are certainly controlling the possession at the moment. However, we are still awaiting our first real chance of the match. Both sides are very well matched.
Again it's good work from the home side as De la Bella advances down the left before firing a low cross into the penalty area, but the danger is cleared. Meanwhile, Rayo also deal with the two resulting corners.
The match has just settled into a pattern of Sociedad forcing the issue and Rayo defending with numbers. Still no real chances created from either side after 20 minutes of football.
Nearly a half-chance for Rayo as Piti attempts to find the run of Dominguez, but Bravo is quick off his line to gather the danger. Meanwhile, Tito turns a Leo cross behind for a corner moments later.
It is a game that is just waiting for someone to take control as both sides see attacks break down time after time. However, Leo looks the brightest player on display.
Another half-chance falls the way of the home side as Chori pounces on a loose ball outside the box, but his effort is high and wide of the target. It has been that type of match thus far.
The home supporters' frustrations continue as Sociedad force another free kick just outside the box, but once more Chori's effort is straight into the wall. It simply has to be better than that.
Sociedad force their fifth corner of the match, but once more it is wasted as Martinez heads wide from close range. In truth it has been a really scrappy 30 minutes of football.
GOAL! Real Sociedad 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (Vela)
Sociedad take the lead as Vela pounces on a loose ball inside the box before firing a finish past Cobeno. They have certainly been the better side.
Hopefully that goal will just liven the game up a touch. It needed something like that to happen. We have hardly mentioned Vela in the opening 30 minutes, but he has made the biggest contribution.
GOAL! Real Sociedad 2-0 Rayo Vallecano (Vela)
Two goals for Vela in the space of two minutes as the Mexican collects possession before curling an effort into the bottom corner.
Well that has certainly livened the match up. Sociedad have been the better side, but neither team had really threatened to open the scoring in the early stages. That has all now changed.
CHANCE! Rayo are really struggling at the moment as Ruben Pardo strikes a fine volley towards the top corner, but Cobeno claws it to safety. It is all one-way traffic as we approach the interval.
CHANCE! Again the home side come close to adding their third as Carlos Martinez meets a corner, but Cobeno makes a fine save to deny the defender. Rayo really are wobbling here.
Rare chance for the away side as Leo collects possession before finding the run of Dominguez, but the midfielder is crowded out at the vital moment. It just isn't quite happening.
Decent spell for the away side as we approach the latter stages of the half. However, the final pass continues to elude them. Surely they will make some changes at the interval.
Meanwhile, the fourth official reveals that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the half.
Real Sociedad 2-0 Rayo Vallecano
So there we have it. Two goals in two minutes from Carlos Vela has handed Real Sociedad a half-time lead over Rayo Vallecano. In truth, it has been a match of few chances.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Both sides have enjoyed 50% of the possession, but the home team have had seven shots to Rayo's one.
We did not see much from Vela in the opening 30 minutes of football. But he sprung into life to score two goals in two minutes and put his side in a commanding position ahead of the second period.
As it stands Sociedad would move into ninth spot in La Liga and Rayo would drop into 11th. Although both sides would be level on points. But it can all change so quickly. Stay with us for the second period which will get underway in around three minutes.
Change for Rayo at the interval as Andrija Delisbasic comes on to replace Casado. Meanwhile, the home side get us underway in the second period.
It appears that Rayo have moved into a back three for his second period. They are certainly going to give this half a real go. However, gaps will open up for the home side.
It's really smart football from Sociedad as Vela and Prieto combine in midfield, but the Mexican is just crowded out in the act of shooting. He really wants to take that match ball home with him.
Half-chance for Rayo as Piti strikes an effort from outside the box, but it just moves wide of Bravo's post. The away side certainly seem more productive in the early stages of the second half.
Sociedad advance straight down the other end and find themselves in a two-on-one situation, but Chori's effort is deflected behind for a corner, which is also cleared.
Another half-chance for Vela to add his third as he curls an effort from the edge of the penalty area, but it just moved high of the crossbar. Sociedad are a real danger on the counter at the moment.
Rayo are playing the better football at the moment, but each time they lose possession Sociedad have two men up the pitch. The next goal - if there is one - could decide this game.
Half-chance for Rayo as Leo strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was never really troubling the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Delibasic has provided support to the Brazilian since arriving in the second period.
Rayo continue to force the issue with Delibasic and Leo combining in attack, but the final pass continues to elude them. You just get the feeling that they need to score in this period.
GOAL! Real Sociedad 3-0 Rayo Vallecano (Gonzalez)
Sociedad have their third and it's against the run of play as Martinez heads a Vela cross into the back of the net. That should be just about it for this one.
I said that Rayo had to score during that period, but they left so much room in behind and have been punished. Surely they cannot come back from this?
Meanwhile, change for the away side as Lass replaces Dominguez. It has been a difficult evening for the Argentine midfielder. Little under 25 minutes of football remaining.
Rayo continue to press forward despite being three goals behind. But once more their final pass does not reach its destination and Martinez clears the danger.
Rayo have the ball in the back of the net as Lass whips a low cross into Delibasic, but the linesman rules the striker's effort offside. Replays have shown that it was the correct decision.
The chances continue to fall for both sides as Chori finds Vela in the box, but the Mexican fires straight at Cobeno. Meanwhile, the striker fires wide of the target moments later.
Chance! It really should be four for Sociedad as Chori whips a searching cross into the penalty area, but De la Bella heads wide from close range. It looked easier to score.
Change for the home side as Ifran is replaced by Markel Bergara. Little over 15 minutes of football remaining this evening.
Both sides continue to attack in the latter stages of this match. In fairness to Rayo they have had a real go in this second period. However, Vela's two goals in the first half ultimately decided the result.
GOAL! Real Sociedad 4-0 Rayo Vallecano (Chori)
The home side have their fourth of the evening as Chori strikes a thunderous effort into the top corner from just inside the box.
Questions may well be asked about the goalkeeper there, but it was such a powerful strike. It's cruel on Rayo, but that is football at the highest level.
Change for the home side as Pardo is replaced by David Zurutuza. Meanwhile, you just get the feeling that there are more goals in this match. It is easy to see why Rayo have the worst defensive record in the league.
Final change for the home side as Vela is replaced by Imanol Agirretxe. The Mexican is given a wonderful reception from the crowd and he deserves it after his two goals.
Rayo also make their final change as Leo is replaced by Franco Vasquez. In truth, both sides are just waiting for this match to end as we enter the final five minutes of normal time.
CHANCE! Sociedad come close to adding their fifth as Bergara strikes a thumping effort from outside the box, but it just drifts over the crossbar.
Half-chance for the away side to open their tally as Delibasic advances on goal, but he can only chip his effort straight at the goalkeeper. Little under one minute of normal time remaining.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes of added time.
Rayo end the match on the attack as Delibasic strikes another long-range effort, but to no avail. Little under 30 seconds of football remaining.
Real Sociedad 4-0 Rayo Vallecano
So there we have it. Carlos Vela is among the goals as Real Sociedad record a vital three points against Rayo Vallecano. That just about does it from me this evening. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to join us for Champions League football tomorrow. Until then!
