Barcelona experienced a surprising 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad on Sunday, which brought their impressive seven-match winning streak in all competitions to an abrupt end. Sheraldo Becker netted the only goal of the game in the first half, catching Barcelona off guard.
This loss marked Barcelona’s first defeat in over a month and only their second in the league this season. The Catalan side found themselves on the back foot for much of the match, with Sociedad creating numerous scoring opportunities. Despite boasting the most potent attack in Europe’s top five leagues with a total of 40 goals, as well as 15 in the Champions League, Barcelona failed to register a single shot on target during the match.
Barcelona remains at the top of the LaLiga standings with 33 points, six points ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. Atletico Madrid sits in third place with 26 points, while Real Sociedad occupies the eighth position with 18 points.
Lamine Yamal, a key young player, was sidelined due to a right ankle injury sustained in Barcelona’s recent Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade. In the opening minutes of the match, Barça believed they had scored when Robert Lewandowski found the back of the net, only for VAR to rule it out due to a marginal offside in the build-up.
Real Sociedad quickly seized control. After a fine save from Barça’s goalkeeper Iñaki Peña on a free kick from Mikel Oyarzabal, Becker managed to evade the offside trap and convert a Luka Sucic header in the 33rd minute. The home team continued to dominate the match, with Barcelona’s defense appearing disorganized. They were fortunate not to be trailing by a larger margin at halftime, especially when Oyarzabal missed a clear chance just before the break.
Despite missing several opportunities, Sociedad’s attacking players continually tested Peña, who made crucial saves against Oyarzabal, Take Kubo, and Brais Méndez. Barcelona came dangerously close to an equalizer midway through the second half when Fermín López’s deflected shot almost found the net, but goalkeeper Álex Remiro was quick to react and save.
Reflecting on the match, Barcelona’s Pedri acknowledged the strength of their opponents, stating, “Real Sociedad are a team that presses very well. It was very difficult for us to put the ball in play. We weren’t accurate today and I think it’ll be a one-day thing. The team is doing well and it’s nothing to worry about. In the second half, we didn’t have any clarity. We have to analyze it and keep working after the international break. We’re doing well and we’re still in the lead.”
While this setback may be disappointing for Barcelona fans, it emphasizes the competitive nature of LaLiga and the resilience of the team. With a strong record thus far in the season, there is every reason to believe that they can learn from this defeat and bounce back with renewed determination in their upcoming matches.