Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona: Robbery in the Basque Country as Ronald Araujo snatches victory for visitors

Ronald Araujo’s injury-time diving header gave Barcelona a somewhat unjust 1-0 victory at Real Socieded on Saturday night.

Sociedad made an electric start and within the first quarter-hour had forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a number of saves – with those denying Mikel Oyarzabal and Take particularly incredible.

Eyes were on the Spanish champions to see how they would react to the defeat in El Clasico and, on this evidence, they appeared a side devoid of confidence.

To their credit they did battle tenaciously to stop Sociedad from dominating on the scoresheet, but Xavi looked an embarrassed figure at the full-time whistle after Araujo netted, moments after he and Gavi saw efforts testing the home goalkeeper Alex Remiro for the first time in the game.

Barcelona now lie third with Sociedad eight points behind in sixth.

Sociedad made an electric start and within the first quarter-hour had forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a number of saves

It is easy to forget the on-loan player from Manchester City for a time was maybe the best player in the Premier League a couple of years ago. Acting as playmaker from the left back position recording the most passes of any player in the league, many of which were penetrating balls key to Manchester City’s dominance in the pre-Erling Haaland era. With this outstanding creative ability it is easy to see why Xavi wanted to see him play high up the field expecting to see a glut of assists from the right flank. This has not proved to be the case though and with the Barcelona injury room clearing, with Raphinia and Robert Lewandowski in particular back fit, this experiment is likely to end now.

It is not an exaggeration to say that if the Barcelona goalkeeper was not on his game the match could have been over for his side within 15 minutes. He is the last regular from the glory Lionel Messi era and while the team’s standards have undoubtedly dropped, he is getting better, picking up his first Zamora Trophy last year. He made the full cavalcade of saves in this match denying opponents from point blank range as well as rockets from the edge of the box.

Real Sociedad: Remiro 7; Traore 6, Zubeldia 6, Le Normand 6, Munoz 7; Brais Mendez 7, Merino 7, Martin Zubimendi 7; Kubo 8, Oyarzabal 7, Barrenetxea 7. Subs: Elustondo 6, Cho 6, Fernandez 6.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 9*; Araujo 7, Kounde 6, Inigo Martínez 6, Balde 6; Gavi 7, Gundogan 7, Fermin 6; Joao Cancelo 6, Joao Felix 6; Lewandowski 6. Subs: Ferran Torres 6, Pedri 7, Yamal 6, Raphinia 7.

1′ TER STEGEN FORCED TO MAKE A GOOD SAVE! Ander Barrenetxea drove a shot towards the near post inside 30 seconds which the Barcelona keeper parried away.

3′ AWFUL MISTAKE FROM KOUNDE! And it gives Oyarzabal a chance to shoot at goal but ter Stegen again makes a good save pushing wide of the post.

4′ A THIRD CHANCE… This time Merino wins an unchallenged header eight yards from goal but directs it wide.

15′ ANOTHER FINE SAVE FROM TER STEGEN! Barrenetxea puts in a low cross from the left flank which Kubo directed back across goal at the back post but the Dutch keeper diverted the shot away with his right leg.

71′ BARRANETXEA WITH A FINE EFFORT ON THE VOLLEY! But once more ter Stegen deals with the effort parrying to safety despite it bouncing awkwardly in front of him.

90+1′ WHAT A CHANCE FOR GAVI! Pedri set him up with a fabulous no-look pass but his fellow young gun saw his effort blocked by Remiro’s sprawling leg.

90+3′ ARAUJO WITH THE BALL IN THE NET! He finished with a fabulous diving header. Gundogan clipped a cross from the left flank and replays show Araujo is ONSIDE! GOAL FOR BARCELONA!

• 7 – Real Sociedad have not beaten Barcelona at home for seven years.