Barcelona Fight Back To Sink Real Sociedad And Reclaim LaLiga Top Spot

Barcelona showed grit and quality in San Sebastián on Sunday night, overturning an early setback to edge Real Sociedad 2-1 and return to the top of LaLiga.

Rashford Sparks Barça Attack

Marcus Rashford, still adjusting to life in Spain after his loan switch from Manchester United, looked sharp throughout. He forced a flying save from Álex Remiro early on and repeatedly tested the Sociedad backline with his movement and pace. His delivery also proved crucial, with a perfectly weighted corner allowing Jules Koundé to head home Barça’s equaliser just before half-time.

Sociedad Strike First

The hosts had threatened on the break, and their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute. Ander Barrenetxea found space down the left and slipped a low cross to Álvaro Odriozola, who arrived at the far post to slot in the opener. The Anoeta erupted, sensing a scalp against one of Spain’s giants.

Yamal Makes The Difference

Teenage star Lamine Yamal, fresh from being named Europe’s best young player last week, entered the fray just before the hour. Within moments, he made his mark. Darting into the box, Yamal lofted a pinpoint cross onto the head of Robert Lewandowski, who powered home to give Barça the lead.

The Polish striker almost doubled his tally, striking the bar late on after a neat exchange with substitute Ferran Torres, while Takefusa Kubo came agonisingly close to equalising for Sociedad with a thunderous shot against the woodwork.

A Title Race Wide Open

Barcelona’s win comes less than 24 hours after rivals Real Madrid were stunned 5-2 in the derby against Atlético. The result leaves Barça one point clear at the summit, with six victories in seven games underlining their resilience despite injuries and squad rotation.

Fans And Reactions

On social media, Barcelona fans lauded Yamal’s instant impact and Rashford’s growing influence. “This team has balance again,” one supporter posted on X, while others hailed Lewandowski’s knack for big moments. Spanish pundits noted that while the performance wasn’t flawless, Barça’s ability to grind out results could prove decisive in a title race that looks set to swing back and forth all season.

For Real Sociedad, the frustration was clear. They had pushed the champions to the edge but left empty-handed, adding to a run of near-misses against Spain’s top two.

{Source:ESPN Africa}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com