Barcelona faced an unexpected 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday, marking the end of their impressive seven-match winning streak across all competitions. Sheraldo Becker scored the sole goal of the match in the first half, leading to the Catalan club’s first defeat in over a month and only their second in the league this season.
Despite being the top attacking side in Europe’s leading leagues with 40 goals, and an additional 15 goals in the Champions League, Barcelona struggled significantly in this match, failing to register any shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Currently at the top of the standings with 33 points, Barcelona maintains a six-point lead over Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, while Atletico Madrid holds the third position with 26 points. Real Sociedad sits in eighth place with 18 points.
The absence of young talent Lamine Yamal, recovering from an ankle injury, was felt keenly by Barca. They appeared to have taken an early lead in the 13th minute when Robert Lewandowski scored from a rebound; however, VAR ruled the goal out due to a marginal offside.
As the match progressed, Real Sociedad dominated. After Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Peña made a stunning save from a Mikel Oyarzabal free kick, Becker capitalized on a defensive error to score in the 33rd minute. Barcelona’s defense struggled throughout, allowing their opponents several prime scoring opportunities, and the visitors were fortunate to go into halftime only one goal down.
In the second half, Becker missed multiple chances to extend the lead, while Peña was forced into several critical saves against attempts from Oyarzabal, Take Kubo, and Brais Méndez. Barcelona’s closest chance came from Fermín López, whose deflected shot nearly deceived goalkeeper Álex Remiro.
Post-match, Barcelona’s Pedri acknowledged the challenge posed by Real Sociedad’s aggressive pressing and expressed confidence in his team’s ongoing performance. “We weren’t accurate today, but I think this will be just a one-off. The team is doing well, and there’s nothing to worry about. We will analyze it and continue improving after the international break.”
This loss, though disappointing, reflects a reality in competitive sports where even top teams can face challenges. It also presents an opportunity for Barcelona to reassess and refocus, leveraging this experience to build on their current performance as they prepare for future matches. With their solid position in the league, there’s plenty of potential for continued success this season.