David Moyes’ first game in charge of Real Sociedad was a goalless draw at Deportivo La Coruna, but the Scot’s home debut ended in an emphatic 3-0 win over Elche, thanks to a Carlos Vela hat-trick. The Mexican headed the Basque side into the lead inside three minutes and doubled their lead after half an hour, before completing his treble and clinching the points early in the second half.
Formerly with Arsenal, Vela was prolific for Real Sociedad in the past three campaigns. After bagging 12 goals in 35 games while on loan from the Gunners in 2011-12, he continued his fine form having signed permanently for La Real. Vela netted 14 times in 35 games in all competitions in 2012-13 and provided a similar return last season with 17 goals in 43 appearances and 430 EuroFantasyLeague points for the San Sebastian side.
La Real’s struggling start to the season under Jagoba Arrasate saw Vela manage only two goals in 12 La Liga appearances, but the 25-year-old was on fire as Moyes oversaw his first game before a near-capacity crowd at Anoeta. His work done, the striker received a standing ovation as Gonzalo Castro replaced him three minutes from time with the win safely in the bag.
Alongside his exploits at club level, Vela has 11 international goals to his name since winning his first cap for Mexico in a friendly against Brazil in 2007. Periods of suspension, internal disputes with the national hierarchy and a less than cordial relationship with the Mexican Press, who accused him of under-performing for his country, restricted his appearances and Vela was excluded from Miguel Herrera’s 2014 World Cup squad.
Following a three-year absence, however, Vela did finally accept the offer of a recall to the national team for the friendly matches against the Netherlands and Belarus. He marked his return to the international stage by scoring twice as Mexico defeated the Dutch 3-2 at the Amsterdam Arena.
It is early days for Moyes, but Sociedad have already begun to climb the table and the former Everton and Manchester United manager will be hoping that Vela’s upturn in form is a precursor to an overall improvement in a team that has yet to find a replacement for the influential French midfielder Antoine Griezmann, who joined Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Moyes needs to strengthen throughout the side and will be hoping that Alfred Finnbogason can replicate the prolific form he showed at Heerenveen, and perhaps develop a partnership with Vela. The Icelandic striker hit 53 goals in 65 games for Heerenveen in just two seasons with the Dutch side, but has struggled for both form and fitness since moving to Spain, failing to score in nine appearances in La Liga.
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