Real Betis beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in La Liga, with their sharper attacking output proving decisive in a balanced contest between two 4-2-3-1 systems. Rodrigo Riquelme scored the only goal, anchoring a Betis performance built on direct progression and a greater volume of attempts rather than territorial control. Sociedad held 52% possession to Betis’s 48%, but the hosts produced seven shots on target compared with the visitors’ three. The underlying chance data offered a different perspective: Sociedad recorded 1.36 xG, narrowly above Betis’s 1.24, yet Betis protected their lead through disciplined defending and flawless goalkeeping. Their goalkeeper saved every effort on target for a 100% save rate, while Sociedad’s goalkeeper still registered 85.71% despite conceding to Riquelme. Betis therefore combined efficiency in the decisive moment with resilience when Sociedad generated opportunities, while their higher attacking frequency ensured sustained pressure at the opposite end. Both sides retained similar structural foundations, but Betis made their work without the ball count more effectively. Betis start the campaign with a valuable narrow victory.