Valencia draw with Real Sociedad to begin season

Valencia were held to 1-1 draw by visiting Real Sociedad in both teams' opening LaLiga match of the season on Saturday.

Diego López put the home team ahead in the 57th minute, stretching to get a foot on the end of Dani Raba's pass over the Sociedad defence and beating the out-rushing Álex Remiro.

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But Valencia's lead would last less than three minutes. Takefusa Kubo fired Sociedad level with a fine left-footed strike into the bottom corner of the net from just outside the area. The goal ended a 16-game scoreless streak in all competitions for the Japan international.

Both teams had chances to win the game.

Orri Óskarsson fired wide for Sociedad when through on goal just a minute after coming off the substitutes' bench, while Valencia's Copete somehow contrived to fail to hit the target from right in front of goal after meeting a cross from Javi Guerra.

A draw was perhaps no surprise after Valencia and Real Sociedad both finished on 46 points locked together in midtable last season.