Real Sociedad routs Sporting Gijon 5-1 in Spain

Posted Monday, January 30, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)—David Zurutuza lasted only five minutes, but it was long enough to score the opening double in Real Sociedad’s 5-1 rout of Sporting Gijon in the Spanish league on Sunday.

The 25-year-old midfielder volleyed Antoine Griezmann’s cross into the left corner for Sociedad’s second-minute opener, and a minute later he stunned Sporting with another shot from the right side of the area after Carlos Vela had played him clear.

“Those goals were just surreal,” said Sporting coach Manolo Preciado. “All the goals that they had missed earlier in the season went in today.”

But Zurutuza’s dream start took an ugly turn in the fifth minute when he and Sporting defender Gregory Arnolin collided face-to-face while disputing a loose ball.

Zurutuza was taken off on a stretcher, and the Basque club said after the game that he had a broken nose and will need surgery. Gregory tried to continue after cleaning the blood from his face but was substituted soon after.

Miguel de las Cuevas grabbed one back for Sporting two minutes after halftime, only to see Sociedad’s Gorka Elustondo tap in a poorly defended corner kick in the 75th.

Mikel Aranburu and Griezmann scored in stoppage time at Anoeta stadium to seal a win that lifted Sociedad four points clear of the drop.

“It’s a pity for Zurutuza to score the two goals in such good form and then hurt his nose,” said Sociedad coach Philippe Montanier. “We will keep him in our thoughts.”

Earlier, Granada coach Abel Resino got off to a winning start as his team moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Real Betis, while third-place Valencia was held to a 2-2 draw at Racing Santander.

Striker Odion Ighalo put Granada ahead in the 13th minute with a low shot from the edge of the area, and Carlos Martins finished off a counterattack for the visitors’ second five minutes before halftime.

The home side improved after the interval and substitute Jonathan Pereira made it 2-1 in the 81st but that was as close as Betis came.

Resino, a former Atletico Madrid coach, took over promoted Granada earlier this week after Fabricio Gonzalez was fired following a three-game losing streak.

“The feelings are good, but we saw a little of everything today,” said Resino. “We’ve been working together for just a week so we can’t ask for big things.”

Valencia looked set to get its first win in four weeks when substitute Aritz Aduriz scored two second-half goals to cancel out Adrian Gonzalez’s early opener for Racing.

But defender Bernardo Espinosa headed home Racing’s equalizer in the 88th to split the points in a physical contest marked by another scary head-to-head collision.

Racing’s Papakouly Diop and Valencia’s Mehmet Topal knocked heads with around 20 minutes to play, leaving Diop temporarily unconscious on the pitch before being substituted. Topal was also taken off on a stretcher.

Racing’s Pedro Munitis and Valencia’s Ricardo Costa were both sent off late with second bookings for a spat near the end of the match.

Also, Getafe dealt Levante its second home loss of the season with a 2-1 win.

Sevilla is at Malaga later, while Atletico Madrid visits Osasuna on Monday.

On Saturday, Real Madrid moved seven points clear at the top of table with a 3-1 win over last-place Zaragoza and Barcelona’s 0-0 draw at Villarreal.

Also, Fernando Llorente scored a hat trick to give Athletic Bilbao a 3-0 win at Rayo Vallecano, and Espanyol edged 10-man Mallorca 1-0.

Bilbao visits third-tier Mirandes on Tuesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal. Valencia hosts Barcelona in the other series’ opening game on Wednesday.