We were unlucky to suffer a 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad as Mikel Merino’s early goal was the difference on an evening which saw Amath’s equaliser ruled out by VAR.
We could not have wished for a worse start as the vistors took the lead after just four minutes when Merino climbed highest to head the ball home from a corner.
Angél almost provided us with a quick response when he latched onto Dani Rodríguez’s through ball and rattled the crossbar on the volley in the 12th minute.
Predrag Rajković had to be at his best to keep us in the game with a number of reaction saves as we headed into the break a goal down.
The hosts struck the post in the 58th minute, but during what was a an incisive counter attack, Amath Ndiaye rolled his marker and found the back of the net although the VAR review ruled the goal out for an earlier foul in the build-up play.
Rajković did well to stop former RCD Mallorca star Takefusa Kubo from doubling the hosts' lead when he raced through one-on-one as the game edged towards full time.
Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta had a late opportunity to level with a fine curling effort from the outside of the box, but he was denied by a good save from Remiro.
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Gorosabel, Aritz (Le Normand, 75'), Pacheco, Rico, Mikel Merino, Guevara (Zubimendi, 65'), Brais Méndez (Illarramendi, 81'), David Silva (Carlos Fernández, 65'), Take Kubo (Robert Navarro, 75'), Sorloth
RCD Mallorca: Rajkovic, Maffeo, Raíllo, Russo (Grenier, 78'), Nastasic, Gio, Battaglia (Antonio Sánchez, 78'), Galarreta, Dani Rodríguez (Kang In Lee, 69'), Amath, Ángel (Abdón, 78').
Goal: Merino, 1-0 (4')
