Coming into the contest with a two-point gap to safety, Sevilla knew a fast start was needed at a fervent Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
The hosts threatened early on, with Chidera Ejuke seeing a low effort smartly saved by Alex Remiro in the visitors’ goal, while Andres Castrin and Nemanja Gudelj also went close for Los Nervionenses in a one-sided opening half-hour.
Having picked up just three away league wins all season (D6, L7), Sociedad remained on the back foot as the first half progressed.
However, for all their pressure in the final third, Sevilla were unable to find the all-important breakthrough, as Neal Maupay volleyed wastefully wide from close range before Ejuke fired over after a great run into the box.
Undeterred by their first-half profligacy, the hosts took a deserved lead within five minutes of the restart, with half-time substitute Sanchez powering a clinical strike into the far corner after good work by Maupay.
Armed with the advantage, Luis Garcia’s men looked to control proceedings with time heading into the final half-hour, as both sides struggled to create anything of note in front of goal.
Having kept the visitors at arm’s length, Sevilla thought they’d doubled their lead in the 80th minute when Lucien Agoume coolly converted in the box, only for the Frenchman’s strike to be ruled out by VAR for offside.
Grateful for that reprieve, Sociedad pushed for a late leveller, but Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men were ultimately unable to breach the hosts’ rearguard, as Los Nervionenses secured just their second LaLiga win in nine matches (D2, L5) to move out of the drop zone at the expense of Alaves.