David Silva scored his first goal for Real Sociedad yesterday to help them go back to the top of La Liga after a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo. Silva headed La Real in front at Balaidos for his first goal since he left Manchester City in the summer, and his first in La Liga since he departed Valencia 11 years ago.
Mikel Oyarzabal made it two with his fifth of the season, a tally that also makes him the league’s top scorer so far. Willian Jose then hit the net twice in the second half, either side of Iago Aspas converting a penalty, which gave Celta brief hope of a comeback.
Celta’s Jose Fontan was sent off for a second yellow card late on, to cap a disappointing afternoon for the home side, who sit 17th, without a win in six games. But another impressive victory for Real Sociedad means they have won their last four league games on the bounce, with scorelines of 3-0, 3-0, 4-1 and 4-1.
They return to the top of the table, one point ahead Real Madrid, who had temporarily taken first place after their 4-1 win over Huesca on Saturday. Atletico Madrid are third, three points off the leaders but with two games in hand. Real Betis had earlier beaten Elche 3-1 to climb to seventh. Elche drop to 10th.

Barcelona held by Alaves to extend winless streak
On Saturday, Barcelona made it four La Liga games without a win after failing to beat 10-man Alaves, a 1-1 draw leaving Ronald Koeman’s side sitting 12th in the table. Luis Rioja put Alaves in front at Mendizorrotza after an error from Barca’s back-up goalkeeper Neto, with Antoine Griezmann equalising in the second half, a minute after Jota Peleteiro had been sent off. But with almost half an hour left and an extra man, Barcelona were still unable to find a winner, instead settling for a draw to go with recent defeats by Getafe and Real Madrid, and another draw against Sevilla.
Even at this early stage in the title race, the gap is significant and Koeman will know the scrutiny on his position as coach will increase, particularly after the resignation of Josep Maria Bartomeu as president on Tuesday.
Bartomeu appointed Koeman coach in August and eight points from the first six league games is not the sort of form that will impress the next president and board, who should be voted in before the end of January. “I’m very disappointed,” said Koeman. “Once again we haven’t played well enough to get a result. The first goal was a gift and then we created a lot of chances but didn’t take them.”
Koeman’s decision to substitute Ansu Fati with 12 minutes left was particularly surprising given Fati had been arguably Barcelona’s most dangerous player, perhaps even more threatening than Lionel Messi, who endured a frustrating night.
Messi has still not scored in open play this season and while he was at the heart of almost every Barca attack, his touch and finishing was again not as crisp as usual. He was booked in the first half for dissent. Fati and Griezmann both missed early chances while a Messi free-kick would have gone in had Florian Lejeune not been perfectly placed on the line.
Frenkie de Jong was unlucky not to have had a penalty when nudged out of a free header by Ximo Navarro before a Barca mistake gifted Alaves the opening goal. Gerard Pique underestimated how close Neto was to him and the defender’s firmly hit backpass caught the goalkeeper by surprise.
Neto failed to adjust his feet and Rioja capitalised, robbing him of the ball and tapping into an open net. Koeman made three changes at half-time, with Pedri, Francisco Trincao and Miralem Pjanic all coming on. But Barca found it difficult to break down the Alaves defence until Peleteiro gave them an opening. He booted Pique in the face to earn a second yellow card in the 62nd minute and in the 63rd, Griezmann equalised, an exquisite, lifted finish pulling Barcelona level.
It was almost 2-1 a minute later but Messi’s finish was well saved while Griezmann had a second ruled out for offside. Fati fired at goal before going off and Pique’s finish was cleared off the line. Alaves held on.

La Liga results
Real Betis 3 (Sanabria 7, Tello 29, 56) Elche 1 (Fernandes 60); Celta Vigo 1 (Aspas 77-pen) Real Sociedad 4 (Silva 24, Oyarzabal 34, Willian Jose 54, 81);
Played Saturday: Real Madrid 4 (Hazard 40, Benzema 45, 90, Valverde 54) SD Huesca 1 (Ferreiro 74); Athletic Bilbao 2 (Muniain 76, Sancet 86) Sevilla 1 (En-Nesyri 9); Osasuna 1 (Budimir 80) Atletico Madrid 3 (Felix 43-pen, 69, Torreira 89); Alaves 1 (Rioja 31) Barcelona 1 (Griezmann 63)
Friday: Eibar 0 Cadiz 2 (Negredo 36, Salvador Sanchez Ponce 39)
Playing today: Monday Villarreal v Real Valladolid (2000 GMT)