FC Barcelona clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, seizing the La Liga lead after Real Madrid’s earlier defeat.
Despite dominating possession, Barcelona trailed after Álvaro Odriozola’s 33rd-minute goal, assisted by Ander Barrenetxea, due to a defensive lapse.
Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper Alex Remiro frustrated the hosts with three vital saves, but Jules Koundé’s 44th-minute header from a set piece leveled the score.
In the second half, substitute Lamine Yamal’s assist set up Robert Lewandowski’s decisive strike, while Barcelona’s tightened defense and midfield control stifled Sociedad’s limited counter-attacks, securing three crucial points despite the visitors’ compact setup and Barcelona’s struggles to penetrate in open play.
Wojciech Szczesny (7/10)
Had a relatively quiet afternoon with few shots to face, but distributed the ball confidently from the back.
His positioning helped maintain a clean sheet until the late stages, showcasing reliability in a low-pressure game.
Jules Kounde (8.5/10)
Scored the crucial equalizer with a powerful header just before halftime, turning the tide.
Delivered a solid defensive display while contributing offensively from right-back, proving his versatility.
Ronald Araujo (7.5/10)
Anchored the central defense effectively, winning key aerial duels against Oyarzabal.
His leadership was evident in organizing the backline during Sociedad’s counter-threats.
Andreas Christensen (7/10)
Provided composure in possession and intercepted several passes in midfield transitions.
Struggled slightly with pace on the flanks but recovered well to limit Sociedad’s breakthroughs.
Gerard Martin (7/10)
Offered decent width on the left but was caught out of position for Sociedad’s goal.
Improved in the second half, supporting attacks with overlapping runs.
Frenkie de Jong (8/10)
Dominated the midfield battle, completing numerous passes and breaking lines with vision.
His all-around energy, both defensively and offensively, was pivotal in regaining control after the opener.
Pedri (8.5/10)
Orchestrated play with silky touches, creating space for the attackers despite the compact defense.
Showed maturity in dictating tempo, though he faded slightly in the final third.
Roony Bardghji (6.5/10)
Brought energy on the right but struggled to influence the game against tight marking.
His direct runs added variety, though the end product was lacking in the first half.
Pedro Fernandez (7/10)
Worked hard in the number 10 role but found little space against Sociedad’s deep block.
Contributed to build-up play but needs more creativity to unlock defenses.
Marcus Rashford (7.5/10)
Used his pace to stretch the defense early, forcing a great save from Remiro.
His wide play created opportunities, though he couldn’t convert his chances.
Robert Lewandowski (8/10)
Netted the winner with a clinical finish from a Yamal assist in the second half.
Held up play superbly, linking with midfielders and posing a constant threat.
Substitutes:
Lamine Yamal (7.5/10)
Made an immediate impact upon entering, providing the assist for the decisive goal.
His dribbling and flair injected energy, justifying his bench role for rotation ahead of PSG.
Dani Olmo (7/10)
Displayed creativity with clever movement, nearly unlocking Sociedad’s defense.
Linked well with attackers but lacked the killer pass to create clear chances.
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