Barcelona: Barcelona won 2-1 against Real Sociedad in Camp Nou on Thursday (December 17). This was the first time since Ronald Koeman took over, that in spite of trailing the Blaugranes won the match. Willian Jose helped La Real get ahead of the hosts in 27 minutes. A ball in from the corner was headed down to Portu, who slid the ball to Jose, who in turn knocked it in the far post.
The visitors’ lead was short-lived as Jordi Alba equalized with a curler on 31 minutes. Antoine Griezmann took the ball down in the box which was guided by Pedri just into Alba’s path and he curled it into the top corner.
Barça kept on creating chances, Griezmann fired a shot onto the crossbar, while Pedri set up Martin Braithwaite through on goal but he wasted the ball and fired it over the bar. Frankie De Jong put Barca in the lead before half-time on 43 minutes when the Dutchman tapped in Alba’s deflected cross from close range. It was initially ruled out as offside but VAR check showed otherwise and the goal was awarded.
At the beginning of the second half, chances continued to come. Griezmann had two very clear opportunities to put his team in a clear winning position but he didn’t manage to score either of them.
Pedri came racing across the goal to deny Alexander Isak an equaliser. The 18-year-old crashed heavily into the goalpost and yet managed to get back to his feet. His crucial block kept his team still ahead in the game. Marc-Andre ter Stegen also made a double stop with just six minutes of the regulation time. The win moves them into fifth place in the table.
