Real Sociedad handed Barcelona their second La Liga defeat of the season in a match that saw them thoroughly outplay the league leaders in San Sebastian. The only goal of the game came from Sheraldo Becker in the first half, who capitalized on a flick-on to find the back of the net. Real Sociedad had multiple chances to extend their lead, with Becker, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Ander Barrenetxea all missing opportunities to make it 2-0. Barcelona, who were missing the injured Lamine Yamal, failed to register a shot on target and never looked in rhythm throughout the match. Even their best moment, a goal by Robert Lewandowski that was ruled out by VAR for offside, was scrappy and followed a fortunate ricochet. The defeat cuts Barcelona’s lead to six points, with Real Madrid now having a game in hand, while Real Sociedad climb to eighth in the league standings.
The controversial disallowed goal by Lewandowski was a talking point in the match, as Barcelona thought they had opened the scoring after 13 minutes, only for VAR to intervene and rule the striker offside. However, upon review, it was not clear if Lewandowski was indeed offside, leading to confusion and speculation around the technology and refereeing decisions in Spanish football. The authorities may need to provide clarification on the ruling to avoid further controversy. Real Sociedad’s Take Kubo was named the Player of the Match for his creative spark and impressive passing that caused problems for Barcelona. Despite not being directly involved in the goal, Kubo’s performance stood out as he dribbled past defenders effectively.
Player ratings for the match saw Real Sociedad players such as Kubo, Becker, and Zubimendi receiving high scores for their performances, while Barcelona players like Martinez and De Jong also received praise. Key moments in the match included the disallowed goal by Lewandowski, the quick goal by Real Sociedad scored by Becker, missed opportunities by both teams, and the lack of attacking threat from Barcelona. Real Sociedad’s strong defensive display and effective counterattacks contributed to their victory over the league leaders.
In terms of match highlights, the disallowed goal by Lewandowski after a VAR review, Real Sociedad’s quick goal by Becker following a flick-on, a missed opportunity by Oyarzabal, and a chance wasted by Barrenetxea were key moments in the game. The streaming service TNT Sports will showcase over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League in the 2024/25 season, with UK viewers able to access the matches on discovery+. This partnership offers fans a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport, and entertainment content in one convenient platform. Real Sociedad’s victory over Barcelona was a significant result in La Liga, with the league leaders facing a challenge in maintaining their lead as the season progresses.
