2012–13 Real Sociedad season
The 2012–13 season was Real Sociedad's 67th season in La Liga. The club's league campaign surpassed all expectations as 4th spot was achieved and the team qualified for the Champions league play-off round.
2012–13 season | |||
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President | Jokin Aperribay | ||
Head coach | Philippe Montanier | ||
Stadium | Anoeta | ||
La Liga | 4th | ||
Copa del Rey | Round of 32 | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Carlos Vela (14) All: Carlos Vela (14) Imanol Agirretxe (14) | ||
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Season summary

The season began with mixed results. A series of home wins and away defeats were reminiscent of previous season's frustration. A convincing win in the Basque derby was the only exception during this disappointing period. Early in November, the club suffered a Copa del Rey defeat away to Segunda División side Córdoba. This was followed by a league defeat at home against 19th-ranked team Espanyol. With the match still in play, fans at the stadium called for Montanier's resignation.
In the Copa del Rey, the team was incapable of overturning the first leg's deficit and exited the competition.
An exceptional run
With an away victory to Málaga, Real Sociedad began a run that stretched from mid-November to the end of the season where the team suffered only two defeats. The team found stability with a 4–2–3–1 formation comprising Asier Illarramendi and Markel Bergara in the double 6 and Xabi Prieto just ahead of them as an attacking midfielder.
Race for fourth
In April, it became clear that either Real Sociedad or Valencia would capture the fourth-place spot. On 28 April, a decisive match between these two took place at Anoeta. Real Sociedad was capable of coming back and won the match, thus opening a five-point gap with Valencia. In the following weeks, however, Valencia won three-straight games while Real Sociedad dropped points. Before the last matchday, Real Sociedad were two points behind Valencia and had to travel to relegation-threatened Deportivo de La Coruña. Real Sociedad won their match and Valencia lost theirs, sending the Basque team to fourth place and securing a spot at the UEFA Champions League play-off round.
Real Sociedad scored 70 goals that season, more than any other club bar Real Madrid and Barcelona and had the fourth-best defence.
Towards the end of the season, when it seemed like Philippe Montanier was about to renew his contract, he signed a contract with Rennes instead.[1] Montanier was awarded the Ramón Cobo trophy, given to the best manager, by the Royal Spanish Football Federation's coaches committee.[2]
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
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2 | Real Madrid | 38 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 103 | 42 | +61 | 85 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
3 | Atlético Madrid | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 65 | 31 | +34 | 76 | |
4 | Real Sociedad | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 70 | 49 | +21 | 66 | Qualification for the Champions League play-off round |
5 | Valencia | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 67 | 54 | +13 | 65 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage[lower-alpha 1] |
6 | Málaga | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 53 | 50 | +3 | 57 | Excluded from European competitions[lower-alpha 2] |
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th goal difference; 5th number of goals scored; 7th Fair-play points
Notes:
- Since the 2012–13 Copa del Rey champions, Atlético Madrid and runners-up Real Madrid qualified to 2013–14 UEFA Champions League, the 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams will qualify for the group stage, play-off round, and third qualifying round of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League respectively.[3]
- Málaga was excluded from participating in any UEFA club competition in 2013–14 season.[4] Málaga appealed against this UEFA ban, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the decision of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body.[5]
Dispute over TV broadcasting rights
Early in 2012, Real Sociedad filed lawsuit against Mediapro on the grounds that payments were not in time or were incomplete.[6] This escalated to a legal case that was eventually won by Real Sociedad. The media group was told to pay what had been established in the contract and €7 million as compensation. Real Sociedad was in addition declared free to sign a broadcasting contract with whoever they wanted to.[7] Weeks before the start of the new season Real Sociedad agreed a 3-year deal with Canal +.[8] Mediapro appealed this decision and in May a provincial court declared that the infringement was not serious enough to justify the €7 million compensation. Real Sociedad had to refund this amount. [9]
Transfers
Players leaving the club (summer)
Player | New Team | Fee |
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Retired | End of contract |
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End of contract |
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End of contract |
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€500,000 [11] |
Loan out
Player | Team |
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Loan end
Player | To |
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Players leaving the club (winter)
Player | New Team | Fee |
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Contract rescinded [14] |
Players joining the club (summer)
Signings
Player | From | Fee |
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Free agent |
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Loan in
Player | From |
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Loan return
Player | From |
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Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Start formations
- Starting XI
Lineup that started most of the club's competitive matches throughout the season.
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Matches
Legend
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Pre-season
14 July 2012 Friendly | Les Eglatins ![]() | 0 – 15 | ![]() | Hendaye |
19:00 CET | (Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Bixente Lizarazu |
18 July 2012 Friendly | SD Eibar | 0 – 3 | Real Sociedad | Azpeitia |
18:30 CET | (Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Garmendipe |
20 July 2012 Friendly | Lyon ![]() | 1 – 1 | ![]() | Saint-Jean-de-Luz |
18:00 CET | Briand ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() |
Stadium: Stade municipal St Jean de Luz Referee: Maxim Thual |
28 July 2012 Friendly | Bordeaux ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() | Irún |
19:00 CET | Gouffran ![]() |
(Report) | Stadium: Stadium Gal |
31 July 2012 Friendly | Real Zaragoza | 1 – 2 | Real Sociedad | Bergara |
19:00 CET | González ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() |
Stadium: Agorrosin |
5 August 2012 Friendly | Modena ![]() | 0 – 1 | ![]() | Modena |
21:00 CET | (Report) | ![]() |
Stadium: Stadio Alberto Braglia Referee: Peruzzo |
9 August 2012 Friendly | Parma ![]() | 2 – 0 | ![]() | Parma |
20:45 CET | Lucarelli ![]() Morrone ![]() |
(Report) | Stadium: Stadio Ennio Tardini Referee: De Marco |
10 August 2012 Friendly | Varese ![]() | 2 – 4 | ![]() | Varese |
20:45 CET | Momentè ![]() |
(Report) | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Stadio Franco Ossola Referee: De Marco |
11 August 2012 Friendly | Siena ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() | Siena |
20:45 CET | Calaiò ![]() Paci ![]() |
(Report) | Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi – Montepaschi Arena Referee: Daniele Doveri |
La Liga
19 August 2012 1 | Barcelona | 5 – 1 | Real Sociedad | Barcelona |
21:00 CET | Puyol ![]() Messi ![]() Mascherano ![]() Pedro ![]() Villa ![]() ![]() |
Report | Castro ![]() Prieto ![]() De la Bella ![]() Ansotegi ![]() |
Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 57,721 Referee: González González (Castille and León) |
25 August 2012 2 | Real Sociedad | 2 – 1 | Celta Vigo | Donostia |
19:00 CET | Agirretxe ![]() Ansotegi ![]() Illarramendi ![]() Vela ![]() Griezmann ![]() Bergara ![]() |
Report | De Lucas ![]() Mallo ![]() López ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
1 September 2012 3 | Mallorca | 1 – 0 | Real Sociedad | Palma |
22:00 CET | Pereira ![]() López ![]() Víctor ![]() ![]() Márquez ![]() Martí ![]() |
Report | Bergara ![]() Ansotegi ![]() |
Stadium: Iberostar |
16 September 2012 4 | Real Sociedad | 2 – 0 | Real Zaragoza | Donostia |
19:50 CET | De la Bella ![]() I. Martínez ![]() Bergara ![]() Vela ![]() ![]() Griezmann ![]() |
Report | Paredes ![]() Abraham ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Ignacio Iglesias |
23 September 2012 5 | Levante | 2 – 1 | Real Sociedad | Valencia |
16:00 CET | Barkero ![]() Martins ![]() Juanfran ![]() Navarro ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Ciutat de València |
30 September 2012 6 | Real Sociedad | 2 – 0 | Athletic Bilbao | Donostia |
20:00 CET | Illarramendi ![]() Griezmann ![]() Vela ![]() |
Report | Iturraspe ![]() San José ![]() Amorebieta ![]() Susaeta ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
6 October 2012 7 | Real Betis | 2 – 0 | Real Sociedad | Seville |
22:00 CET | Paulão ![]() Castro ![]() Martínez ![]() Beñat ![]() Mario ![]() ![]() Agra ![]() Pérez ![]() |
Report | Griezmann ![]() Estrada ![]() |
Stadium: Estadio Benito Villamarín Attendance: 30,886 Referee: José Antonio Teixeira Vitienes |
21 October 2012 8 | Real Sociedad | 0 – 1 | Atlético Madrid | Donostia |
21:30 CET | Bergara ![]() De la Bella ![]() I. Martínez ![]() Estrada ![]() Illarramendi ![]() |
Report | Filipe Luís ![]() Godín ![]() Falcao ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 27,000 Referee: Ayza Gámez (Valencian Community) |
29 October 2012 9 | Real Valladolid | 2 – 2 | Real Sociedad | Valladolid |
21:30 CET | Rueda ![]() Ebert ![]() ![]() Rubio ![]() Óscar ![]() |
(Report) | Griezmann ![]() González ![]() C. Martínez ![]() Pardo ![]() |
Stadium: Nuevo José Zorrilla Attendance: 12,574 Referee: ![]() |
4 November 2012 10 | Real Sociedad | 0 – 1 | Espanyol | Donostia |
12:00 CET | González ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
11 November 2012 11 | Málaga | 1 – 2 | Real Sociedad | Málaga |
22:00 CEST | Saviola ![]() |
Report | Vela ![]() Prieto ![]() |
Stadium: La Rosaleda Stadium Attendance: 27,000 Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Navarre) |
19 November 2012 12 | Real Sociedad | 4 – 0 | Rayo Vallecano | Donostia |
15:30 CEST | Ifrán ![]() Vela ![]() Mikel ![]() Castro ![]() |
Report | Tito ![]() Casado ![]() Gálvez ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 22,600 |
25 November 2012 13 | Real Sociedad | 0 – 0 | Osasuna | Donostia |
21:30 CEST | González ![]() Illarramendi ![]() De la Bella ![]() |
Report | Nano ![]() Sola ![]() Arribas ![]() Armenteros ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 20500 |
1 December 2012 14 | Valencia | 2 – 5 | Real Sociedad | Valencia |
18:00 (CET) | Soldado ![]() Ruiz ![]() Jonas ![]() Banega ![]() |
Report | C. Martínez ![]() De la Bella ![]() González ![]() Ifrán ![]() Vela ![]() ![]() Agirretxe ![]() |
Stadium: Mestalla Attendance: 35,000 Referee: ![]() |
9 December 2012 15 | Real Sociedad | 1 – 1 | Getafe | Donostia |
16:00 (CET) | Pardo ![]() González ![]() ![]() |
Report | Lopo ![]() Barrada ![]() Mané ![]() Alexis ![]() Míchel ![]() Lafita ![]() Gavilán ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 23,000 |
16 December 2012 16 | Granada | 0 – 0 | Real Sociedad | Granada |
20:00 (CET) | Nyom ![]() Ighalo ![]() Romero ![]() |
Report | C. Martínez ![]() Prieto ![]() Vela ![]() |
Stadium: Los Cármenes |
20 December 2012 17 | Real Sociedad | 2 – 1 | Sevilla | Donostia |
22:00 CET | Vela ![]() I. Martínez ![]() De la Bella ![]() Illarramendi ![]() |
Report | Spahić ![]() Medel ![]() Coke ![]() ![]() Botía ![]() Navarro ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 22,000 Referee: ![]() |
6 January 2013 18 | Real Madrid | 4 – 3 | Real Sociedad | Madrid |
17:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Benzema ![]() Adán ![]() Khedira ![]() Ronaldo ![]() ![]() Alonso ![]() |
Report | Prieto ![]() González ![]() Estrada ![]() ![]() I. Martínez ![]() Zurutuza ![]() José Ángel ![]() Elustondo ![]() |
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 75,000 Referee: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva (Galicia) |
13 January 2013 19 | Real Sociedad | 1 – 1 | Deportivo La Coruña | Donostia |
17:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Vela ![]() Illarramendi ![]() Ansotegi ![]() Castro ![]() |
Report | Pizzi ![]() Evaldo ![]() Manuel Pablo ![]() Assunção ![]() Castro ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 22,500 |
19 January 2013 20 | Real Sociedad | 3 – 2 | Barcelona | Donostia |
18:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | I. Martínez ![]() Castro ![]() Illarramendi ![]() Agirretxe ![]() Griezmann ![]() |
Report | Messi ![]() Pedro ![]() Piqué ![]() ![]() Iniesta ![]() Busquets ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Referee: Undiano Mallenco (Navarre) |
26 January 2013 21 | Celta Vigo | 1 – 1 | Real Sociedad | Vigo |
17:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Krohn-Dehli ![]() ![]() Cabral ![]() Fernández ![]() ![]() Lago ![]() Park ![]() |
Report | Elustondo ![]() ![]() De la Bella ![]() Bergara ![]() |
Stadium: Balaídos |
3 February 2013 22 | Real Sociedad | 3 – 0 | Mallorca | Donostia |
21:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Castro ![]() Vela ![]() José Ángel ![]() Ifrán ![]() ![]() |
Report | Hemed ![]() Márquez ![]() ![]() López ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 19,000 |
10 February 2013 23 | Real Zaragoza | 1 – 2 | Real Sociedad | Zaragoza |
17:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Héctor ![]() ![]() Álvaro ![]() Săpunaru ![]() Postiga ![]() Apoño ![]() |
Report | Griezmann ![]() Agirretxe ![]() |
Stadium: La Romareda |
17 February 2013 24 | Real Sociedad | 1 – 1 | Levante | Donostia |
12:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Vela ![]() Pardo ![]() Castro ![]() |
Report | Karabelas ![]() ![]() Míchel ![]() ![]() Iborra ![]() Valdo ![]() Diop ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
24 February 2013 25 | Athletic Bilbao | 1 – 3 | Real Sociedad | Bilbao |
21:30 CET (UTC+01:00) | Ibai ![]() Laporte ![]() Iturraspe ![]() Muniain ![]() |
Report | ![]() Illarramendi ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: San Mamés |
3 March 2013 26 | Real Sociedad | 3 – 3 | Real Betis | Donostia |
21:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | C. Martínez ![]() Vela ![]() I. Martínez ![]() Prieto ![]() |
Report | ![]() Beñat ![]() Pabón ![]() Ángel ![]() Cañas ![]() Chica ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
10 March 2013 27 | Atlético Madrid | 0 – 1 | Real Sociedad | Madrid |
21:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Turan ![]() Juanfran ![]() Godín ![]() Costa ![]() Falcao ![]() |
Summary | Vela ![]() Mikel ![]() Prieto ![]() |
Stadium: Vicente Calderón Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Miguel Ayza Gámez |
17 March 2013 28 | Real Sociedad | 4 – 1 | Real Valladolid | Donostia |
16:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Griezmann ![]() Agirretxe ![]() Prieto ![]() |
Report | Balenziaga ![]() Guerra ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
31 March 2013 29 | Espanyol | 2 – 2 | Real Sociedad | Cornellà de Llobregat |
19:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | García ![]() Stuani ![]() Forlín ![]() Sánchez ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Cornellà-El Prat Attendance: 22,323 Referee: Pedro Pérez Montero Assistant referees: José Matías Jorge Canelo Fourth official: Alexandre Alemán |
6 April 2013 30 | Real Sociedad | 4 – 2 | Málaga | Donostia |
16:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Vela ![]() De la Bella ![]() ![]() Griezmann ![]() I. Martínez ![]() Pardo ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
14 April 2013 31 | Rayo Vallecano | 0 – 2 | Real Sociedad | Vallecas |
12:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Figueras ![]() Piti ![]() Gálvez ![]() Domínguez ![]() Fuego ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Campo de Vallecas |
21 April 2013 32 | Osasuna | 0 – 0 | Real Sociedad | Pamplona |
19:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Armenteros ![]() Nano ![]() Arribas ![]() Oier ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: El Sadar Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz |
28 April 2013 33 | Real Sociedad | 4 – 2 | Valencia | Donostia |
21:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | I. Martínez ![]() ![]() Castro ![]() Agirretxe ![]() Bergara ![]() Illarramendi ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta |
5 May 2013 34 | Getafe | 2 – 1 | Real Sociedad | Getafe |
22:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Pedro León ![]() Barrada ![]() ![]() Castro ![]() Fernández ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Alfonso Pérez Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco |
12 May 2013 35 | Real Sociedad | 2 – 2 | Granada | Donostia |
22:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Castro ![]() Agirretxe ![]() González ![]() Griezmann ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Recio ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Javier Estrada Fernández |
19 May 2013 36 | Sevilla | 1 – 2 | Real Sociedad | Sevilla |
22:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Rakitić ![]() Kondogbia ![]() Navarro ![]() Reyes ![]() Moreno ![]() Diawara ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán |
26 May 2013 37 | Real Sociedad | 3 – 3 | Real Madrid | Donostia |
20:00 CET (UTC+01:00) | Prieto ![]() Griezmann ![]() Bergara ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Anoeta Attendance: 30,586 Referee: González González |
1 June 2013 38 | Deportivo La Coruña | 0 – 1 | Real Sociedad | A Coruña |
21:00 CEST | Sílvio ![]() Aythami ![]() J. Domínguez ![]() Aranzubia ![]() Aguilar ![]() Oliveira ![]() Riki ![]() |
Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Riazor Attendance: 29,000 Referee: David Fernández Borbalán |
Copa del Rey
1 November 2012 | Córdoba | 2 – 0 | Real Sociedad | Córdoba |
19:00 CET | Patiño ![]() Rennella ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Nuevo Arcángel Attendance: 15,790[18] Referee: José Luis González González |
Sources
- "Philippe Montanier, prochain entraîneur du Stade Rennais F.C." (in French). staderennais.com/. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- "Philippe Montanier, galardonado con el 'Premio Ramón Cobo' como mejor entrenador de Primera en 2012-13" (in Spanish). europapress.es. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- "Regulations of the UEFA Europa League 2013/14" (PDF). Nyon: UEFA. March 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- "Malaga have second year of European ban waived by Uefa". BBC. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- "UEFA welcomes CAS decision on Málaga". UEFA. 11 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- "La Real Sociedad demanda a Mediapro por impagos" (in Spanish). Realsociedad.com. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- "La Real Sociedad demanda a Mediapro por impagos" (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- "Acuerdo con el operador DTS para la cesión de los derechos audiovisuales" (in Spanish). Realsociedad.com. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- "La Audiencia Provincial se pronuncia sobre el conflicto entre Mediapro y la Real Sociedad" (in Spanish). Realsociedad.com. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
- "Transfer perfekt: Demidov wechselt zur Eintracht" (in German). Eintracht Frankfurt. 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- "La Real cierra el traspaso de Demidov al Eintracht por medio millón de euros" (in Spanish). El Diario Vasco. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- Joseba Llorente loaned to Osasuna ; Realsociedad.com
- Joseba Llorente will play for Osasuna this season Archived 2012-08-03 at the Wayback Machine ; osasuna.es
- "Acuerdo para la rescisión del contrato de Sarpong" (in Spanish). Realsociedad.com. January 7, 2012.
- http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/carlos-vela-finalises-real-sociedad-switch Archived 2012-08-12 at the Wayback Machine: "Carlos Vela finalises Real Sociedad switch." Arsenal.com. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- José Angel loaned to Real Sociedad ; Realsociedad.com
- Definite shirt numbers for the 2012-13 season announced ; realsociedad.com
- El Córdoba aprovecha el mal de la Real Sociedad fuera de casa (in Spanish)
- Fuera de la Copa (Real Sociedad 2-2 Córdoba) (in Spanish)