You can’t help but feel a little sorry for Real Sociedad.
In any other season, we would be beside ourselves with praise for the job Imanol Alguacil is doing at the club who have become most famous recently for their average mid-table finishes.
The reason why is that the whites and Blues find themselves mixing it in the top four keeping a number of the established elite at bay.
The problem though is Granada.
The newly-promoted outfit have stolen all the headlines after sweeping to the top of the table (second now after Barca won last night) and have been doing a fine job of staying up there when many thought they would likely be relegation fodder.
However, this appears to be suiting Sociedad as their ability to go under the radar is catching people out when they least expect it.
Atletico Madrid know only too well the price you pay for under-estimating Sociedad this season after being on the end of a 2-0 defeat and most recently Real Betis and Celta Vigo suffered losses to the club from San Sebastián.
Now the real test begins – staying there.
Only three times this millennium have Sociedad finished inside the top six in Spain’s top flight and the last two seasons have finished 9th and 12th respectively.
However, come the season end, it is Sociedad who are better equipped to be in the mix whereas it is surely only a matter of time before Granada start to drop off somewhat.
The Blue and Whites have more La Liga experience than Granada and boast an in-form Mikel Oyarzabal and Willian José to help fire them to a strong position.
It has been an eye-catching season so far in which we are witnessing something of a break from tradition.
Could this be the season Sociedad burst back into the top four?
They will not have a better chance than now so it is up to head coach Imanol Alguacil to make it count.
