On Sunday afternoon, Barcelona solidified their position at the top of the La Liga table with a decisive 4-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium. This commanding victory not only secures Barcelona's place in first but also puts them one point ahead of Atlético Madrid, with just 12 games remaining in the season.
The match began with a challenging atmosphere for the Catalans as Sociedad employed an effective game plan characterized by solid pressing and quick passing. Just three minutes into the match, the visitors nearly struck first, but Sergio Gómez’s goal was disallowed due to an offside in the buildup. Barcelona struggled to penetrate the organized defense of La Real, but a pivotal moment arrived in the 17th minute when Robert Lewandowski set up Dani Olmo, who was then fouled by Sociedad captain Aritz Elustondo. This foul resulted in a straight red card, leaving Sociedad with ten men.
With the numerical advantage, Barcelona quickly shifted gears, increasing the intensity of their attacking play. In the 25th minute, the breakthrough came as Lamine Yamal dazzled down the right wing, delivering a pass to Olmo, who crossed it to the far post where Gerard Martín volleyed it home. Just four minutes later, the Blaugrana doubled their lead when Marc Casadó redirected Olmo’s corner shot into the net, firmly establishing Barcelona’s dominance in the match.
Despite controlling the final moments of the half and creating several more opportunities, Barcelona headed into the break with only a two-goal lead. The first half concluded with a clear shift in momentum, thanks to Elustondo's red card, setting the stage for a comfortable second half.
As the second half commenced, Real Sociedad's primary aim was to avoid further damage by adopting a defensive 5-3-1 formation, which occasionally morphed into a back six. This formation sought to limit space as Barcelona dominated possession and sought to create additional scoring opportunities. The Blaugrana took a patient approach, utilizing short passes to exploit openings in Sociedad's defense.
Barcelona's third goal came from a well-executed set piece. In the 56th minute, Raphinha's corner kick found Lewandowski, whose initial header was saved, but Ronald Araujo capitalized on the rebound to extend the lead. Shortly thereafter, Araujo fired a long-range shot that deflected off Lewandowski, finding its way into the net at the hour mark, bringing the score to 4-0.
The significant lead allowed manager Hansi Flick to make early substitutions, resting key players as Barcelona cruised to the final whistle. The match concluded with a comfortable 4-0 victory for the Catalans, who not only reclaimed first place in the title race but also showcased their impressive level of dominance throughout the match.
While the red card shifted the dynamics of the game, Barcelona still had to execute their strategy effectively after Sociedad went down to ten men. The last 75 minutes highlighted the team's superiority and ensured they conserved energy for their upcoming European clash against Benfica. With this victory, Barcelona continues to strengthen their title aspirations in La Liga. Well done, boys!
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo (Fort 76’), Cubarsí (Eric 59’), Martín; Casadó, Pedri (De Jong 59’); Yamal, Olmo (Fermín 71’), Raphinha (Ferran 59’); Lewandowski
Goals: Martín (25’), Casadó (29’), Araujo (56’), Lewandowski (60’)
Real Sociedad: Remiro; Aramburu (Traoré 64’), Elustondo, Zubeldia, López; Zubimendi (Turrientes 46’); Gómez, Olasagasti (Martín 20’), Marín, Barrenetxea (Mariezkurrena 46’); Óskarsson (Aihen 77’)
Goals: None
Red Card: Elustondo (17’)
