Barcelona’s remarkable winning run came to an abrupt end at the hands of Real Sociedad, as the Catalan giants succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away from home in La Liga yesterday. What was expected to be a routine continuation of their domination turned into a match defined by misfortune, fine goalkeeping, and razor-thin margins.
The scoreboard tells only part of the story. Barcelona registered 25 shots in total, nine on target, while controlling over 70% of possession. Yet the woodwork thwarted them five times, three goals were disallowed for offside, and Sociedad’s goalkeeper stood tall with eight crucial saves. Every conceivable opportunity was squandered, ending the Catalan club’s 11-match winning streak in agonising fashion.
The match began with a disallowed goal for Real Sociedad in the very first minute. Barcelona also had two goals ruled out via VAR, as Ferran López and Lamine Yamal fell foul of offside decisions. But in the 32nd minute, Sociedad broke the deadlock. Mikel Oyarzabal struck a sublime volley from a Gonçalo Guedes cross, leaving the visitors chasing the game.
Barcelona’s persistence eventually paid off in the 70th minute when Marcus Rashford, coming off the bench, headed Yamal’s cross into the net to level the scores. The reprieve was short-lived, however, as Guedes restored Sociedad’s lead just 60 seconds later. Despite continuous pressure and another near-miss from Jules Koundé late in the game, Barcelona could not find a way past a resolute Sociedad defence.
The encounter also saw late drama as Sociedad’s midfielder Carlos Soler received a red card for a foul on Pedri, but Barcelona were unable to capitalise on the numerical advantage.
Despite the loss, Barcelona remain at the top of the La Liga table, though they missed the chance to extend their lead over fierce rivals Real Madrid, who are just a single point behind.
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Barcelona | Real Sociedad |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 71% | 29% |
| Total Shots | 25 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 9 | 6 |
| Goals Scored | 1 | 2 |
| Shots Hitting Woodwork | 5 | 0 |
| Disallowed Goals | 3 | 1 |
| Key Saves by Goalkeeper | 8 | – |
Barcelona’s misfortune joins a rarefied list in European football. They became only the second team in the top five European leagues to hit the woodwork five times in a single match, a dubious feat last seen when Brighton suffered the same fate against Manchester United in September 2020.