PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad

The new Liga seasons begins for FC Barcelona on Sunday at 8.00pm CEST against Real Sociedad. A lot has happened between the end of the 2020/21 season and the start of the 2021/22 campaign, but the objective is the same as ever – to play entertaining football and win games.

The following guide will help you find out what time the game kicks off where you are and which channels are showing it. For fans in the United States, it's especially exciting because for the first ever, a Liga game is being screened free-to-air.

Fans at Camp Nou

Not only is football returning to the Camp Nou, but there are also going to be fans in the stadium. It was on 7 March 2020 that Barça hosted Real Sociedad in the last game before Covid-19 measures meant sports events would have to be played closed doors. And 526 days later, with the doors finally open again, the team from San Sebastian are also the guests.

As in the three preseason friendlies at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, only a certain percentage of seats can be filled. 15,280 season ticket holders have requested tickets for Sunday’s game, and they are all guaranteed a seat.

Even a limited number of supporters will make a massive difference. Indeed, not just for the new signings but even for established members of the squad like Pedri, Sergiño Dest, Oscar Mingueza and Miralem Pjanic this will be the first time they have appeared at Camp Nou in front of fans (and it will also be a new experience for Ronald Koeman in his current role as manager).

Team news

It is impossible to ignore that this will be the first competitive fixture that Barça have played since the departure of the greatest player not only to wear the famous jersey, but in most opinions, to have ever played the game we all love.

Leo Messi, now at Paris St Germain, will be sorely missed. But there is no time to dwell on the past and this summer has brought some very exciting new signings. Memphis Depay has already been impressing in friendlies, while Emerson Royal and Eric García will help to keep the team tighter at the back.

The preseason has also shown that up-and-coming youngsters Yusuf Demir, Rey Manaj, Nico González, Pablo Gavira (Gavi) and Alejandro Balde could have plenty of impact this season, and they have all been included in the squad announced on Sunday morning:

Star signing Sergio Agüero has picked up an injury, so we’ll have to wait a while before we get to enjoy his contributions to the forward line

The Argentinian is not the only concern. Barça have a surprisingly long injury list considering this is the first game of the season, with Ansu Fati, Óscar Mingueza, Marc-André Ter Stegen, Moussa Wagué and Ousmane Dembélé also unavailable.

There was some positive news in the conformation that Frenkie de Jong, Clement Lenglet and Gavi are all good to play, while Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Rey Manaj have all finally been registered in time for the start of competition.

Real Sociedad

The Basques are sure to provide a tough test at Camp Nou. They led La Liga for much of the 2020/21 season, eventually falling away to finish fifth.

That said, history is very much on the Catalan side. Barça have not lost to Real Sociedad for more than five years (ten games dating back to a 1-0 defeat at the Reale Arena in 2016).

At home, the form is even more impressive. Barça are on an incredible run of 23 wins in a row against Real at Camp Nou. We have to go all the way back to 1995 to find the last time the side from San Sebastian avoided defeat in the Barça stadium.

Barça won this game 2-1 last season, while they took the away fixture by a staggering 6-1 with braces from Messi and Sergiño Dest and a goal apiece for Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé.

Moreover, Barça traditionally do well when playing the first game of a league season at home. Remarkably, since losing 1-0 to Espanyol at Les Corts in the opening fixture of the 1939/40 season, Barça have NEVER been beaten at home on the opening day.

Ronald Koeman Says

On Real Sociedad: “I’m excited. We’ll have 20 to 22,000 fans and that’s the best thing. We know all about Real’s quality because we played several games against them last season.”

On the club’s finances: "We know all about the club’s financial situation. We must stress the attitude of players like Gerard, Sergi Roberto, Busquets and Alba. They have shown that they care about their home club … We need players and have a number of injuries. We’re short on players and we need a forward. But whether or not we can sign depends on the fair-play rules. If we can, we’ll buy players.”

Frenkie de Jong: "He had no problems in the last two training sessions. He is available against Real Sociedad".

Ansu Fati: "He’s made progress with his recovery and might be with the group in two or three weeks’ time, after the international break.”

Antoine Griezmann: “I love working with him … He always helps off the ball, he's happy and he gives encouragement … Without Leo he’s going to be more important because he’ll be filling his position.” 

Pedri and Eric García: “They’ve come back from the Olympics in good spirits and they are focused on Barça. They’ve proved they’re ready to play.”

Memphis: "We were together for two years for the Holland national team. He’s very effective and always performs. The effectiveness we have lost with Leo will now be required of others. Not just the forwards but the midfielders too. We will be especially looking for ways to create goals from set pieces.”

Gavi: “He’s wearing a mask, but he’s available.”

Leo Messi: “It painful for all Barça fans because he did so much here. But we can’t dwell on the past. People change team. We have to live for today, and let bygones be bygones … There are other players. We have a very strong squad, especially when the injured players return. We have no excuses, there are games and points to be won and we’ve had a good preseason.”