Barcelona vs Real Sociedad match summary: The league leader's fall ignites La Liga
In a dramatic night of football that reshuffled the cards in the Spanish league title race, league leaders Barcelona fell to a 2-1 defeat against their stubborn hosts, Real Sociedad. The match, held at the Anoeta Stadium on Sunday evening as part of the 20th round of La Liga, was more than just a routine fixture; it proved to be a pivotal turning point in the title race.
Match scenario: Basque advance, Catalan response incomplete
The match began with both teams pressing, but the home side managed to impose their rhythm and finish the first half with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of a goal from star player Mikel Oyarzabal in the 32nd minute, putting early pressure on the Blaugrana. In the second half, Barcelona tried to get back into the game, and new signing Marcus Rashford managed to equalize in the 70th minute, reviving the visitors' hopes of at least securing a point.
But the Catalan joy lasted only a minute, as Real Sociedad responded swiftly and decisively through Gonçalo Guedes, who scored the second goal in the 71st minute, taking advantage of the poor positioning of Barcelona's defense immediately after the equalizer.
The final minutes were a tense and thrilling affair, with Real Sociedad finishing the match with ten men after Carlos Soler was shown a straight red card in the 88th minute for a reckless challenge on Pedri. Despite being a man down, Barcelona were thwarted by sheer luck, as the woodwork came to the home side's rescue on five bizarre occasions in the second half, denying the league leaders a comeback that seemed within their grasp.
The Anoeta curse and the impact of the result on the title race
This defeat serves as a reminder of the difficulty of playing in the Basque Country, where the Anoeta Stadium has historically been one of the toughest grounds for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. The raucous atmosphere and Real Sociedad's disciplined defense have always posed a challenge for La Liga's giants, a fact clearly demonstrated in this round.
In terms of the league standings, this result is a "precious gift" to their closest rivals, Real Madrid. Barcelona's points tally remains at 49 at the top, but the gap has narrowed to just one point over second-placed Real Madrid, who have 48 points. This extreme closeness means that any further slip-up could cost Barcelona their position at the top, increasing the psychological pressure on the team in the upcoming matches.
In contrast, Real Sociedad strengthened its position in the safe zone and moved closer to the European qualification spots, raising its tally to 24 points and climbing to eighth place, achieving its sixth win this season, confirming that the Basque team is a tough competitor in the Spanish league equation this year.
