Jon Martín Shines in Real Sociedad’s 3–1 Win Over Celta Vigo – Defensive Masterclass

 

For Illustration Purpose Only

📊 Match Overview: Real Sociedad 3–1 Celta Vigo

Competition: La Liga (Matchday 21)

Date: 25 January 2026

Venue: Reale Arena, San Sebastián

Result: Real Sociedad 3 – 1 Celta Vigo

• ⭐ Goals: Oyarzabal (17′, 75′), Brais Méndez (90+6′ pen)
• ⚽ Celta’s goal: Borja Iglesias (72′)
• Real Sociedad played much of the 2nd half with 10 men after Caleta‑Car was sent off just before half‑time.

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🧠 Jon Martín — Tactical Role & Performance

Position: Centre‑back (Defender)

Formation: Real Sociedad lined up in a back four; Martin started as one of the central defenders.

🛡️ Defensive Role

• Primary role: Anchoring the central defence, responsible for tracking runs, aerial challenges, and maintaining line discipline.
• One‑on‑one defending: Kept Celta’s forward play in check for most of the match; helped keep pressure under control after the team went down to 10 men.
• Involvement in set‑pieces: Positioned centrally to challenge aerial balls and cover second‑ball situations.

🔑 Key Defensive Actions

• Corner conceded from Martin’s side: Celta generated pressure through wide delivery around Martin’s zone in the first half — this led to a corner at ~27′.
• Goal conceded context: Jon Martín was beaten for pace/movement on the goal that Celta scored — Borja Iglesias found space between defenders to finish.
• Steady performance otherwise: Aside from the goal conceded, he was steady with clearances and positioning while Real Sociedad absorbed sustained Celta pressure.

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📌 Key Moments for Martín

• Conceded corner around 27′: Showed willingness to challenge but drew set‑piece action from Celta.
• Celta goal involvement: Lost the immediate aerial/positional battle on the equalising goal — a note for pace/transition focus.
• General defensive calm: Played through heavy pressure after the red card and helped Real Sociedad maintain defensive shape.

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📌 Summary & Scouting Notes

Strengths Shown in This Match

• Composure under pressure: Even with a man down and Celta pushing, Martin kept shape and limited space between lines.
• Positional discipline: Showed good alignment with fellow defenders in covering counters and aerial threats.
• Set piece involvement: Acted as a central anchor in defensive set pieces and was proactive in clearances.

Areas to Improve

• Pace & recovery runs: The conceded goal highlighted a slight delay in recovery pace vs a direct striker — useful to note for scouting comparisons.
• Distribution under pressure: While not directly highlighted in stats, situations where Sociedad played out from the back were tight — continued development in passing under press would amplify his ball‑playing profile. (general scouting inference)

Overall Impression

A solid defensive display in a high‑intensity match. Martin demonstrated positional maturity and calm defending, especially valuable while the team was down to 10 players. The slight vulnerability on the goal conceded is a targeted development focus rather than a systemic weakness.

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📌 Useful Reference Stats (2025–26)

• Jon Martín is recognized among promising centre‑backs in La Liga this season based on analytic ratings — highlighting his potential and upside.

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📋 Quick Tactical Summary

Team Context: Sociedad’s defensive unit was tested heavily after losing a centre‑back to a red card. Martín helped hold the line, preserve structure, and limit big chances despite Celta’s pressure, contributing to a disciplined defensive team performance that allowed Sociedad to win.