Lucía Pardo guides Real Sociedad towards the Champions League
The txuri-urdin outfit secured a 2-1 victory over RCD Espanyol at Zubieta, heading into the international break in 3rd position in Liga F Moeve with 47 points, eleven ahead of fourth place. Lucía Pardo, with a brace, was the MVP of the duel, while Browne scored the goal for the Perico side.
22 FEB 2026
Before the match kicked off, Real Sociedad paid tribute to Ainhoa Moraza for her 100 appearances as a *txuri-urdin* player. The first chance of the game fell to the *txuri-urdin* club with a cross into the box from Cecilia Marcos that Arola Aparicio nearly met at the far post. Nine minutes into the game, Lucía Rodríguez played a long ball for Arola Aparicio’s sprint. The winger sent a low cross into the heart of the area, where Lucía Pardo finished by slotting the ball into the back of the net. Cecilia Marcos continued to generate danger down the flank, while, at the other end, Lucía Vallejo tried her luck with a high shot. A great play by the Basque side nearly resulted in a goal from Claire Lavogez, but the move was ultimately disallowed for offside by the home side.
Arturo Ruiz's team kept trying, and Cecilia Marcos attempted a high header. In the 37th minute, Paula Fernández set up Lucía Pardo inside the box. The forward, who was the MVP of the clash, dribbled past Meritxell Muñoz and scored her brace. The visiting goalkeeper then managed to collect a shot from Nerea Eizagirre at the second attempt to prevent a third for the hosts. The last chance of the first half was a header from Claudia Florentino that went over the crossbar. After the break, Browne entered the *perico* attack, but it was Nerea Eizagirre who tried her luck again with a strike that missed the opponent’s goal. Claire Lavogez did find the net with a header, but Meritxell Muñoz made a superb save to tip the ball wide for a corner.
In the 52nd minute, Ona Baradad threaded a pass to Ángeles del Álamo, who crossed into the box for Browne to pull one back on the scoreboard. Goalkeeper Meritxell Muñoz proved impenetrable under the posts to thwart the attacks from the San Sebastián side. Real Sociedad could have sealed the match when a shot from Intza struck the crossbar directly. Claire Lavogez also came close to scoring, but the French player’s header was again saved by the *perica* goalkeeper, who repeated the feat minutes later by denying a shot from Intza. The *blanquiazules*, despite Browne’s persistence, could not level the game in the final stretch and left Zubieta empty-handed. Meanwhile, Arturo Ruiz's team remains in 3rd position in Liga F Moeve with 47 points, eleven ahead of the fourth-placed side.