NEGREIRA, Spain (Interstat) — Real Sociedad’s youth squad delivered a commanding performance Tuesday, decisively defeating host Negreira 3-0 in a first-round match of the Copa del Rey Juvenil at Estadio Xesús García Calvo.

The visiting side from San Sebastian controlled the match from the outset, with the final scoreline defying a pregame projection from Interstat that had forecast a 1-1 draw. The same analytics system had given Real Sociedad an 81.40 percent probability of victory, a figure the team’s dominant display made look conservative.

The breakthrough for La Real came early, setting the tone for the evening. In the 12th minute, forward Mikel Goti found the back of the net, giving the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. His early goal eased any potential pressure and allowed Real Sociedad to settle into its game plan, patiently probing the Negreira defense while maintaining firm control of possession.

Negreira struggled to mount a consistent offensive threat throughout the first half. The home side’s frustrations boiled over in stoppage time before the break, when defender Duje Ćaleta-Car was shown a yellow card. The booking was the only one of the match and highlighted the growing disconnect for Negreira, which found itself consistently second to the ball and unable to disrupt Real Sociedad’s rhythm.

Any hopes of a Negreira comeback were effectively extinguished nine minutes into the second half. In the 54th minute, midfielder Arsen Zakharyan doubled Real Sociedad’s advantage with a well-taken goal. The 2-0 lead allowed the visitors to further manage the game’s tempo, stifling any potential momentum the home team tried to generate and forcing Negreira to take risks that left them exposed at the back.

Real Sociedad put the result beyond any doubt in the 82nd minute, sealing a comprehensive victory with a third goal. Midfielder Beñat Turrientes was the scorer, capping a fluid team move and underscoring the gulf in class between the two sides on the afternoon. The goal finalized the 3-0 scoreline, a resounding statement from a team beginning its campaign in the prestigious Spanish youth knockout competition.

With the victory, Real Sociedad opens its Copa del Rey Juvenil account with a perfect record of one win and zero losses. The loss sends Negreira to an 0-1 start in the tournament. The records for both clubs across all competitions this season mirror their fortunes in this match, with Real Sociedad moving to 1-0 overall and Negreira falling to 0-1.

The one-sided nature of the contest will provide a significant confidence boost for Real Sociedad’s youth setup as it progresses to the next round. The team demonstrated a clinical edge in front of goal and a defensive solidity that gave the home side no clear path back into the game. For Negreira, the match serves as a difficult introduction to the level required to compete against one of Spain’s established top-flight academies, highlighting areas for improvement as its season continues.