Villarreal 2 - 1 Real Sociedad: Nicola Sansone inspires Villarreal with 60-yard wonder goal

A wonder strike from 60 yards by Nicola Sansone steered Villarreal to a 2-1 win over 10-man Real Sociedad at El Madrigal.

The German-born Italy international fired the hosts in front midway through the first half before adding a Beckhamesque second soon afterwards as he spotted Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli way off his line.

Yuri pulled one back for the visitors but Fran Escriba's men overcame an early Alexandre Pato penalty miss to claim a third consecutive win in all competitions.

The first major highlight of the game arrived 15 minutes in when Sansone was tripped by Rulli's trailing leg to win a penalty, with the home fans unhappy that the Argentinian goalkeeper was booked rather than sent off.

It got worse for the Yellow Submarine when Pato dragged his effort wide, with Bruno Soriano having relinquished duties after he had a spot-kick saved against Malaga last weekend.

The first goal did arrive though in the 22nd minute when a through-ball from Roberto Soriano with plenty of disguise on it released Sansone and the former Sassuolo forward calmly sidefooted past the advancing Rulli.

But far better was to come three minutes later when Sansone received the ball inside his own half from Samu Castillejo, advanced over the halfway line and unleashed a stunning strike to give Rulli no chance.

La Real halved the deficit 10 minutes before the break as good approach play from Carlos Vela and Willian Jose was rounded off by a sweet angled strike by Yuri arriving late in the box.

Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo showed his class five minutes after the restart to spread himself and block in a one-on-one with Juanmi, before Mateo Musacchio had to throw himself in the way of a Mikel Oyarzabal shot minutes later.

The visitors had plenty of possession after that but created precious little and had Joseba Zaldua sent off in injury time as the hosts' decent run rolled on, with a trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid coming next.