FC Barcelona 2-0 Real Sociedad: A job well done

Derby defeat last weekend meant Barça had dipped back down to third and were now depending on Girona dropping points if they were to claim the last remaining berth in next season’s Spanish Super Cup.

They didn’t need to wait long. Alavés delivered a fine favour on Friday night and Barça have capitalised by seeing off Real Sociedad on Monday evening with a 2-0 win at the Estadi Olimpic.

Against a side in similar need of points, in their case in pursuit of as Europa League place, the three points were anything but easy to come by. The Basques put up a very strong fight, and after a brilliant Lamine Yamal had put Barça ahead just before the break, it wasn’t until Raphinha tucked away an injury time penalty that the win was finally secure.

Lamine beauty

The opening goal took 40 minutes to materialise, but it was worth the wait. Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gündoğan both had starring roles to play in the build-up, and Lamine’s left-footed finish was simply delicious. His fifth goal of the Liga season, and Barça had the advantage at the break.

It came just moments after Raphinha had put the best of a long series of blaugrana chances onto the post, but in a pulsating encounter, Real Sociedad and especially Surinamese frontman Sheraldo Becker had opportunities of their own.

Chasing the second

Barça looked a lot more settled after taking a lead that Raphinha very nearly doubled with a long-range curler towards the top corner that Álex Remiro tipped over the bar. The visiting keeper produced another brilliant save to prevent substitute Ferran Torres from scoring with his first kick of the ball.

But Barça couldn’t kill the game, and a Real equaliser was never out of the question. In fact, Brais Méndez probably should have done just that, but after doing so well to work his way into the prefect position, he got his finish utterly wrong.

Penalty clincher

The result was finally decided in somewhat peculiar circumstances. Montjuic was livid that the referee had missed not one but two handballs in the Real area, and a good two minutes had passed before play could finally be stopped and referee was called over to take another look via video.

Penalty? Of course! With Lewandowski substituted, it was up to Raphinha to do the duties, which he complied with expertly.

2-0. Game over. And Barça bounce straight back to second place with three games to play.

And the next is right around the corner. It’s Almería away next Thursday at 9.30pm CEST. Girona, meanwhile, face Villarreal at Montilivi on Tuesday at 10pm CEST.