Real Sociedad clinch Champions League place after historic campaign | OneFootball

Real Sociedad have sealed a Champions League place for next season, the anthem set to ring out in Zubieta after a historic campaign in Arturo Ruiz’s first year in charge.

They clinched it with a comeback at Riazor, guaranteeing at least the qualifying phase. Diario Vasco notes how a quiet early-season aim hardened into conviction as the months passed.

Ruiz said early in the year that strong January and February form would justify talking about Europe, and by March he was calling it the objective. Their rise rested on nine months of consistency rather than a short streak.

Real Sociedad scarcely left the Champions League places, dropping out only three times before consolidating their bid. The final return was 17 wins, 6 draws and 3 defeats, two to Real Madrid and one to Tenerife.

November delivered a statement, victory over Barcelona in Zubieta, their only defeat of the season and the club’s first against Barcelona in nearly 20 years.

Ruiz, hired from Granada after last season faltered under Sánchez Vera, fashioned a bold, adaptable and defensively robust team blending youth with experience. When Bayern Munich activated a clause to end Edna Imade’s loan, removing a forward on 10 in 12, the goals were shared by Lavogez and Intza, and 16-year-old Aiara Agirrezabala emerged.

Europe now beckons, starting with the qualifiers, and the aim is to reach the group stage. This team have shown all season they do not recognise limits.

Source: Diario Vasco