In a gripping La Liga encounter at the Reale Arena, Real Sociedad emerged victorious over Barcelona with a 2-1 scoreline. The match, marked by VAR interventions, saw Mikel Oyarzabal open the scoring for the hosts in the 32nd minute, assisted by Gonçalo Guedes. Despite Barcelona's dominance in possession, they were unable to capitalize, with two goals disallowed by VAR for a foul and offside in the first half.
VAR Interventions and First Half Tension
The first half was a tale of frustration for Barcelona, as they saw two goals ruled out by VAR. Fermin's early strike was disallowed for a foul, and Lamine Yamal's effort was chalked off for offside. Real Sociedad capitalized on this reprieve, with Oyarzabal finding the net after a clever pass from Guedes. The half ended with Real Sociedad leading 1-0, despite Barcelona's 73% possession.
Second Half Surge and Defensive Resilience
The second half saw Barcelona's Marcus Rashford equalize in the 70th minute, assisted by Yamal. However, Real Sociedad responded immediately, with Guedes scoring the winner just a minute later. The match intensified with several yellow cards and a late red card for Carlos Soler, but Real Sociedad held firm to secure the win. Despite Barcelona's 25 shots, the home side's defense, led by Álex Remiro's eight saves, proved decisive.
Statistical Insights and Player Performances
Barcelona's statistical dominance was evident with 608 passes and a high pass accuracy of 89%, yet it was Real Sociedad's efficiency that shone through. Guedes was instrumental, not only scoring but also engaging in 17 duels. Lamine Yamal's performance for Barcelona was notable, with 15 successful dribbles and a player rating of 9, though it wasn't enough to change the outcome.
Looking Ahead
This victory marks a significant boost for Real Sociedad, who have shown resilience in recent matches, including a draw against Atlético Madrid. For Barcelona, the defeat highlights the need to convert possession into goals, as they prepare for upcoming fixtures. Both teams will look to build on their performances as the season progresses.
