After edging Mallorca, Real Sociedad takes the lead in La Liga 1-0

Real Sociedad, who were down a man and without their top scorer, went to a 21-year-old reserve player to score a crucial goal that gave them a three-point lead in the Spanish league. When Julen Lobete scored a 90th-minute winner to beat Mallorca 1-0, he became an immediate fan favorite at Anoeta Stadium, which was sold out for the first time in more than a year and a half.

With his team unable to create chances, Lobete came on in the 66th minute. After receiving a through pass from fellow substitute Martin Zubimendi, the youthful attacker cut back to his right foot and fired a powerful shot past goalkeeper Manolo Reina. Before losing left-back Aihen Muoz to a second yellow card in the waning seconds of the first half, Sociedad had scarcely made Reina work. Until Lobete struck, the visitors appeared to be heading for a hard-fought draw. Lobete scored his second goal for Sociedad's first team.