Real Sociedad 2-1 Barcelona: Title race reignited as Catalans stunned in San Sebastián

Barcelona‘s bid to reclaim their four-point lead at the top of La Liga came unstuck tonight as poor finishing, misfortune and the resilience of Real Sociedad saw them stumble to a surprise defeat.

The visitors had three goals chalked off, as well as a penalty, and hit the woodwork on numerous occasions with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Gonzalo Guedes, either side of Marcus Rashford’s equaliser, seeing La Real claim a famous win.

Carlos Soler was sent off late on for the home side but they held on, meaning Barca end the weekend still top but just a solitary point ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Levante yesterday.

Barcelona almost caught out in the first minute

Barcelona arrived in San Sebastian brimming with confidence having won 11 games on the trot but were nearly knocked out of their stride in the opening minute, Oyarzabal glancing in a header only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

Barca responded and Lamine Yamal picked out Pedri in the area but the Spain international fired his shot straight at Alex Remiro in the Sociedad goal.

The Blaugrana thought they had the lead after seven minutes when Dani Olmo dispossessed Takefusa Kubo, prompting a counter attack that culminated in Fermin Lopez firing in from the edge of the area. VAR intervened, however, and the effort was chalked off with replays showing Olmo had caught Kubo on the ankle.

Barca were frustrated again midway through the opening period when Frenkie de Jong ran on to Pedri’s clipped pass and finished neatly only for the offside flag to go up.

Olmo and Yamal both came close for Barcelona, as did Guedes at the other end.

Remarkably, the visitors had their third goal of the opening 28 minutes ruled out when Yamal was confirmed as being inches offside by the VAR after latching on to a loose ball inside the area.

Oyarzabal opens the scoring

Having ridden their luck, Sociedad promptly went up the other end and scored, and this one was given. Guedes was the architect with a brilliant cross and Oyarzabal placed his volley superbly past Joan Garcia for his first goal since November.

Olmo stung the palms of Remiro before the goalkeeper produced a magnificent stop to deny a trademark curling effort from Yamal.

The half ended, fittingly, in frustration for Barcelona. Yamal was tripped by Igor Zubeldia and referee Jesús Gil Manzano pointed to the spot only for the VAR to rule the Spain teenager had strayed a fraction offside.

The sense that it would not be Barcelona’s night intensified with the impressive Olmo hitting the woodwork twice within five minutes of the restart.

Hansi Flick had seen enough and brought on Robert Lewandowski, Rashford and Joao Cancelo, who was making his second debut for the club.

And within seven minutes Barca were level.

Rashford to the rescue only for Guedes to stun Barcelona

Shortly after Remiro made a stunning save to turn Lewandowski’s header on to the bar, Rashford struck with a far post header from Yamal’s dinked centre.

Having worked so hard to drag themselves level, Barcelona promptly undid all their hard work. Straight from the kick-off, Sociedad swarmed forward and Guedes swept them back in front.

Jules Kounde hit the woodwork with a header with five minutes to go, shortly before Soler was sent off for a nasty challenge on Pedri.

The 10 men held on with relative ease as Barca’s challenge finally petered out.