Real Sociedad 2 : 1 Sporting de Gijon - Griezmann brace sinks Gijon

Antoine Griezmann was Real Sociedad's two-goal hero as the Basque side ended their miserable run of form with a potentially crucial 2-1 victory over Sporting Gijon.

Sociedad, last season's Segunda Division champions, looked in serious danger of an immediate return to the second tier after picking up just up one point from their past seven games, but Griezmann ensured his side can breath a little easier tonight.

The highly-rated winger opened the scoring in the first half, and although in-form Sporting drew level through Miguel De Las Cuevas midway through the second period, Griezmann netted what would prove to be the winner 10 minutes from time with a twice-deflected strike.

Sociedad's win, which came after five successive defeats, saw them move level with Sporting on 38 points - five above the relegation zone.

Sporting, with confidence high after picking up 13 points from their previous five games, looked dangerous early on but it was Sociedad who took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Xabi Prieto floated a cross in towards the penalty spot and Griezmann got in front of his marker to send a glancing header past Sporting goalkeeper Juan Pablo Colinas and just inside the far post.

That was the only goal of the first half, although Sociedad needed a stunning save from their custodian Claudio Bravo to keep out Sebastian Eguren's looping header and remain in front at the break.

Bravo was left clutching a thin air in the 69th minute however as Sporting drew level through a fine strike from De Las Cuevas.

The former Atletico Madrid midfielder netted his fourth goal in the last six matches after thumping a 25-yard effort past Bravo.

Both sides pushed for the winner in the closing stages, and Sociedad were twice denied by finger-tip stops by Colinas, Raul Tamudo and Griezmann the home players involved.

It would be Sociedad celebrating come the final whistle though, thanks to Griezmann and a fair degree of good fortune.

Alberto Lora's poor clearance went straight to Griezmann on the edge of the area, and the French youngster's shot took two deflections off Sporting defenders - the second off Lora - to leave Colinas totally wrong-footed as it rolled past him into the net.