Barcelona’s title defence suffered a major setback as Real Sociedad secured a surprise 2-1 La Liga victory on Sunday, ending Hansi Flick’s side’s 12-match unbeaten streak.
Despite hitting the woodwork four times and having two goals disallowed, Barcelona now lead rivals Real Madrid by just a single point after Madrid defeated Levante on Saturday.
Real Sociedad, unbeaten in four matches under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, held on to victory even after Carlos Soler was sent off late in the game, moving up to eighth in the league.
Frenkie de Jong admitted the frustration post-match, saying, “We played well but we didn’t win… their goalkeeper had a very good game.”
Sociedad’s shot-stopper Alex Remiro was indeed heroic, making several crucial saves throughout the match. “Three great points and a great game,” Remiro said. “We’ve started this year in great form… this is the energy we have, how we’ve changed recently.”
The game started with both sides having early goals ruled out. Real Sociedad struck first against the run of play when Mikel Oyarzabal volleyed home Goncalo Guedes’s cross, giving La Real the lead. Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal had a goal disallowed for offside, and another penalty decision for him was overturned by VAR.
Barcelona increased the pressure in the second half, with shots from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski hitting the post or being saved by Remiro. Marcus Rashford eventually equalised in the 70th minute with a header from Yamal’s cross.
However, Real Sociedad quickly regained the lead after Guedes fired in following a rebound off Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Sociedad nearly scored a third, but Pau Cubarsi cleared Oyarzabal’s effort off the line. Barcelona came agonisingly close again when Jules Kounde headed against the crossbar from a Joao Cancelo cross.
Carlos Soler’s late red card for a foul on Pedri added drama, and Rashford struck the post from a corner in stoppage time, but Barcelona could not find an equaliser, leaving Real Sociedad with a famous win.
