On Sunday, FC Barcelona made a strong comeback against Real Sociedad, securing a decisive 4-0 victory that propelled them to the top of the La Liga standings during the 26th matchday of the competition. The match, held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc, saw goals from Gerard Martín, Marc Casado, Ronald Araújo, and Robert Lewandowski, with strikes occurring in the 25th, 29th, 56th, and 60th minutes, respectively.
The home side capitalized on their opponent’s numerical disadvantage after Real Sociedad’s Aritz Elustondo was sent off in the 17th minute for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. This red card proved to be pivotal as Barcelona quickly asserted their dominance on the pitch.
This victory not only allowed Barcelona to avenge their earlier loss to Real Sociedad—where they were defeated 1-0 at Anoeta in the first half of the season—but also marked their sixth consecutive win, boosting their points total to 57. This places them just ahead of Atlético Madrid, who trail with 56 points, while increasing the gap to three points over defending champions Real Madrid, who suffered a setback against Real Betis with a 2-1 defeat the previous day.
The match was a significant morale booster for Barcelona, especially following their thrilling 4-4 draw against Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey the prior week. The team is now poised to face Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 this coming Wednesday.
On the other hand, Real Sociedad’s loss kept them at 34 points, languishing in ninth place. Their situation became even more precarious following a previous defeat to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, increasing the pressure on the team as they prepare to host Manchester United in the Europa League round of 16 next Thursday.
The match began cautiously, with both teams exhibiting a conservative approach in the opening 15 minutes. Real Sociedad appeared momentarily threatening, as forward Sergio Gómez found the back of the net early on, only for the goal to be ruled offside following a review via VAR. Additionally, a shot from Ory Osakarsón struck the crossbar, but VAR ruled out that effort as well.
Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Onana, nearly found himself in a compromising position when he hesitated on a pass, allowing Pedri, the team’s midfield dynamo, to intercept the ball, although the opportunity ultimately went over the crossbar.
The turning point came when Aritz Elustondo received a red card for fouling a Barcelona player one-on-one, reducing Sociedad to ten men for the rest of the match. The Basque team paid dearly for this disadvantage almost immediately, as Barcelona capitalized on their situation. Lamine Yamal initiated a beautiful play, dribbling past defenders and passing to Dani Olmo, who delivered a cross that Gerard Martín converted with a precise shot to open the scoring for the home side.
Just four minutes later, Raphinha took a free-kick that was punched away by Sociedad’s goalkeeper but fell to Dani Olmo, whose shot redirected off Marc Casado and into the net, giving Barcelona a comfortable 2-0 lead.
In the 38th minute, Alex Remiro, the Sociedad goalkeeper, pulled off a remarkable save to deny Pedro’s effort, ending the first half with the hosts firmly in control at 2-0.
Barcelona continued their onslaught at the start of the second half. An early shot from Raphinha went narrowly wide before a corner kick was headed by Lewandowski, only for Remiro to deflect it, allowing Araújo to finish it off with another header, extending the lead to 3-0.
Subsequently, a near miss from Pedri, whose shot struck the post, was followed up by another attempt from Araújo, which Lewandowski expertly redirected into the net, marking his 21st goal of the season.
Overall, this convincing victory not only enhanced Barcelona’s standings but also showcased their resilience and attacking prowess as they look to maintain their championship challenge.
