Real Sociedad 1-2 Barcelona
At half-time, it looked like the first major La Liga 2018 upset of the new season could happen.
SBOBET followers had been warned. After all, Real Sociedad boasted five wins and two draws in their last eight home matches against Barca.
Yet in the end, the La Liga 2018 odds proved just about right and Barca returned home relieved but with maximum points and an early season advantage in the table over arch-rivals Real Madrid as they were held by Athletic Bilbao.
Highlights of the game
The refurbished Anoeta Stadium, where Sociedad have worked their magic against Barcelona before, was bouncing again inside 12 minutes.
Aritz Elustondo fired past Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and three sides of the ground, which has been redeveloped over the summer with the running track removed so the fans can be closer to the action, erupted.
Indeed, it is quite a difference. The front row is now around eight metres away from the side of the pitch as opposed to more than 40 metres.
At that point, any concern over the home side’s injury worries (Willian Jose, Sandro Ramirez, Diego Llorente, Jon Guridi, Martin Merquelanz, and Adnan Januzaj were all ruled out) were quickly put to one side.
Barcelona also had absentees.
Arthur was not included in the squad after international duty for Brazil, only training with the first team the day before this match.
In addition, Malcom was ruled out by an ankle injury.
Yet home boss Asier Garitano had clearly done his homework with a five-man midfield providing a clear edge and Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba’s threats being hampered by close marking.
Mikel Oyarzabal fired over the bar while Ter Stegen was alert to keep out Theo Hernandez (on loan from Real) and the striker spearheading the hosts’ attack, Juanmi.
The San Sebastian side had threatened to create one of the La Liga 2018 highlights for the underdog, but the introduction of Philippe Coutinho and Sergio Busquets, plus a combination of missed chances and good goalkeeping, proved costly.
Luis Suarez volleyed in an equaliser from close range and, with Sociedad still reeling, Ousmane Dembele converted from a corner with the help of two slight deflections.
Both goals were mistakes from the home goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
He had denied Coutinho moments earlier but failed to punch the ball clear from a corner, just after a similar scenario gifted Barca the equaliser a few minutes prior.
It was Dembele’s fourth goal of the fledgeling season – matching his total for the whole of last season (granted it was blighted by long injury spells).
Three have been matchwinners with the decisive goal against Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup Final and the only goal in the recent win at newly promoted Real Valladolid.
Bringing on the likes of Coutinho and Busquets – new signings Clement Lenglet and Arturo Vidal were also among the substitutes – showed the strength in the squad Catalan coach Ernesto Valverde has at his disposal this year.
Juanmi pulled off into space behind Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti brilliantly but headed narrowly wide late on so there was to be no happy homecoming for the Basque club.
The renovated Anoeta did not get the result it deserved, and the visitors held on for a barely deserved victory.
If winning badly is the hallmark of champions, Barcelona look ominous.
Key statistics
This is a second successive victory at the Anoeta for Barcelona after an 11-year barren spell without a success there.
Dembele has won more points than any other player in La Liga so far this season (three goals, four assists).
Messi has a superb record against the Basque club – 15 goals and seven assists in 22 games.
Since 2010, Messi has scored against Sociedad in every season bar one (2014/15).
Suarez embarrassed himself by appealing for a non-existent handball during the match. He must have forgotten VAR was watching!
Barcelona are the only remaining side in the Spanish top flight with a 100 per cent record.
There was a small ceremony before the game for Imanol Agirretxe, the former Sociedad forward who has had to retire from football at the age of 31 due to a series of injury problems.
What’s next?
It’s straight into the Champions League now for Barca who welcome PSV Eindhoven to the Nou Camp in midweek (when surely Busquets and Coutinho will come back into the starting line-up) and then entertain Girona in La Liga before an away trip to Leganes.
Sociedad face newly promoted opponents in their next two matches. They travel to Huesca before entertaining Rayo Vallecano.
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