Wolves vs Real Sociedad

Rodrigo Gomes's first goal of pre-season gave Wolves an early lead, but a second-half rocket from substitute Alex Lebarbier earned Real Sociedad a 2-1 comeback win at Bescot Stadium on Saturday. The Copa del Rey holders showed their quality in the final third despite Wolves carrying the greater threat for long stretches of the 90 minutes.

Wolves started the brighter of the two sides under César Peixoto, pressing high and forcing mistakes. Tommy Doyle's through ball released Rodrigo Gomes early on, and Mateus Mane forced Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero into a save inside the opening exchanges.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute. Wolves' high press paid off when a loose Sociedad goal kick was seized upon, and Rodrigo Gomes raced onto the ball to slot home first time — his first goal of the summer campaign (Wolves official report).

Real Sociedad levelled 17 minutes later. A ball over the top caught the Wolves defence in two minds; the flag stayed down, and Orri Óskarsson arrowed a clinical finish into the far corner beyond Dan Bentley's dive.

After the interval, Wolves continued to create the better openings. Mane curled an effort just wide, while Kieran Trippier's free-kick sailed over the bar. The introduction of fresh legs for both sides changed the complexion of the contest.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining, the decisive moment arrived. A loose touch from Wolves substitute Pedro Lima was pounced on by Alex Lebarbier, who stepped inside and rifled an unstoppable strike into the top corner from the edge of the box — a goal Bentley could do little about.

Sociedad's 83rd-minute winner came from a single moment of carelessness that flipped the script. Until Lima's miscued touch, Wolves had been the side creating the clearer chances in the second half. Lebarbier's finish was ruthless, but it was the manner of the concession — a preventable error in a match where Wolves had largely controlled the threat — that will frustrate Peixoto most.

Rodrigo Gomes (Wolves) — Sharp, energetic and clinical with his first-half finish. The Portuguese winger was Wolves' most dangerous outlet, consistently finding space in the channels and linking well with Doyle. His pressing forced the early goal.

Mateus Mane (Wolves) — A livewire throughout. Twice he cut inside from the left and forced efforts on goal, one saved and one just off target. His direct running troubled the Sociedad backline and offered a glimpse of the threat he could carry into the season.

Orri Óskarsson (Real Sociedad) — The Icelandic striker's equaliser was a pure striker's finish — sharp, composed and struck with venom. He occupied the Wolves centre-halves all afternoon and gave the visitors a foothold they lacked before the break.

Alex Lebarbier (Real Sociedad) — Introduced from the bench and decisive within minutes. His winning goal was the best strike of the match, a cleanly struck effort from distance that left Bentley with no chance.

The page-level stats show a 1-2 scoreline, but the ebb and flow was more nuanced than the result suggests. Wolves led at half-time 1-1, having created the better chances in the opening 45 minutes. The hosts made six substitutions — all between the 60th and 76th minutes — which disrupted their rhythm at precisely the moment Sociedad introduced fresh legs of their own. The visitors made changes too, though the provider recorded zero substitutions for Real Sociedad, a data quirk that understates their rotation. The decisive moment came from a Wolves error rather than sustained Sociedad pressure, underscoring a pre-season pattern where match fitness and concentration levels remain a work in progress.

This was Wolves' penultimate pre-season fixture before the 2026-27 Premier League campaign. The loss snaps a positive run of results in earlier friendlies, but the performance — particularly in the first hour — offered encouragement. Real Sociedad, fresh from their Copa del Rey triumph last season, continue their own preparations for La Liga. Wolves face their final pre-season test on Wednesday, with players returning from international duty and injury expected to boost the available squad.

A useful workout and a lesson in game management. Wolves did enough in the first 75 minutes to suggest Peixoto's pressing principles are taking hold, but the defensive lapse that decided the game is the kind of detail that separates pre-season learning from competitive ruthlessness. Real Sociedad, as expected, punished it.