At the time of writing Real Sociedad sit pretty at the top of La Liga (although Atletico does have two games in hand on them) and riding a crest of a wave that has been a couple of seasons in the making.
After spending many seasons threatening the top half then scattering away again, the club from the Basque country is finally finding some consistency and head coach Imanol Alguacil getting the most out of his financially smaller assembled squad than some of his upper La Liga echelons rivals.
So, who is this club looking to cause an almighty shock in Spain? And where did they come from?
In the beginning
Founded in 1909, Real Sociedad hail from the city of San Sebastian in the Basque Country harbouring an intense rivalry with Athletic Bilbao.
Up until 1989, the club was similar to Bilbao in so much as they would only sign players from the Basque Country, but the club has since taken on a more ‘international’ feel ever since.
The club began from workers returning from Britain with the club merging from 1905 formed Club Ciclista de San Sebastián in 1909.
In 1929, Real Sociedad was one of the La Liga founding members and has gone on to have strong presence in Spain’s top-flight having spent a 40-year period from 1967 to the relegation season of 2007.
Back in La Liga
Three seasons from 2007 to the middle of 2010 Real Sociedad competed in the Segunda division but during the 09/10 season, the club claimed the title and promotion back to La Liga.
In their third season back, Sociedad finished fourth in the division earning a spot in the Champions League for the second time although just one point earned in the group stages dumped the club out early doors.
Today
The two-time former La Liga winners have pedigree in the competition and after eleven games in this season, find themselves at the summit thanks to seven wins, three draws, and just one defeat.
There is still a long way to go but after ending last season in sixth, the club is more than capable of going at least two better and making a third appearance in the Champions League next season.
