Barcelona's Winning Streak Shattered in Madrid
Real Sociedad delivered a stunning blow to Barcelona's momentum on Sunday. The Catalan giants saw their impressive 11-game winning streak across all competitions come to an abrupt end with a 2-1 defeat in the Spanish league.
Barcelona created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match. They hit the woodwork five separate times and had three goals disallowed by video review. A penalty-kick call was also reversed during a frustrating first half for the visitors.
Missed Opportunities and Controversial Calls
Barcelona thought they had taken an early lead when Fermín López found the net. Video review disallowed this goal for a foul by Dani Olmo on Takefusa Kubo during the buildup. Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal also saw goals called back for offside violations.
"We played well and created many scoring opportunities," De Jong said after the match. "We deserved to win this game. Our team needs to capitalize on these chances when they come."
Yamal earned a penalty in first-half stoppage time, but officials reversed this decision too. The young forward was ruled offside upon review.
Sociedad's Clinical Finishing
Real Sociedad took advantage of Barcelona's misfortune. Mikel Oyarzabal put the hosts ahead with a precise volley in the 32nd minute. Barcelona equalized through Marcus Rashford's header in the 70th minute, but their celebration was short-lived.
Gonçalo Guedes restored Sociedad's lead just one minute later with a well-placed shot from inside the area. The home side defended resolutely despite Barcelona's relentless pressure.
Goalkeeping Heroics and Final Drama
Sociedad goalkeeper Álex Remiro delivered an outstanding performance. He made several crucial saves, including a spectacular close-range stop from Robert Lewandowski's header in the second half.
"These are three amazing points for our team," Remiro said after the match. His efforts proved decisive in securing victory for the eighth-placed Sociedad.
The match saw late drama when Sociedad's Carlos Soler received a red card in the 88th minute for a hard foul. Barcelona continued pressing but couldn't find an equalizer.
Coaches React to the Result
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed disappointment with the outcome. "We created numerous opportunities today," Flick said. "The final result does not reflect our performance on the field."
"Sometimes football works this way," he continued. "You invest tremendous energy and still encounter bad luck. I appreciate what I saw from our players today."
League Implications and Other Matches
This defeat leaves Barcelona just one point ahead of second-place Real Madrid in the standings. Real Madrid secured a 2-0 home victory against Levante on Saturday.
In other Spanish league action, Atletico Madrid earned a 1-0 home win against relegation-threatened Alaves. Alexander Sorloth scored the decisive goal with a powerful header in the 48th minute.
Valencia moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory at Getafe. José Gayà scored the winning goal in the 84th minute, ending Valencia's six-game winless streak.
Celta Vigo continued their strong form with a 3-0 home victory against Rayo Vallecano. The visitors played with ten men after Nobel Mendy's red card in the 66th minute.
Barcelona will need to regroup quickly after this setback. Their last Spanish league defeat came against Real Madrid in October. The Catalan club must now focus on maintaining their narrow lead at the top of the table.
