Marcus Rashford scores for Barcelona, but 10-man Real Sociedad hold on for a 2-1 La Liga win, denying the leaders and reigniting the title race.
Barcelona began strongly at Estadio Municipal de Anoeta but were denied repeatedly. Sociedad had a goal in the opening minute ruled out for offside after Carlos Soler glanced beyond Joan Garcia. Barca responded quickly, with Pedri feeding Fermin Lopez, who saw his low strike disallowed following a VAR check for a foul on Takefusa Kubo. Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal also had efforts ruled out for offside in the first half. Despite controlling possession and creating chances, Barcelona went into the break 1-0 down after Mikel Oyarzabal finished a precise volley from Gonçalo Guedes’ cross in the 32nd minute.
The first half ended in controversy as referee Jesús Gil Manzano initially awarded a penalty to Barcelona after Yamal was clipped by Igor Zubeldia. VAR overturned the decision due to the teenager being offside in the build-up. Dani Olmo tested goalkeeper Alex Remiro twice just after the interval, hitting the post both times. Robert Lewandowski’s header, delivered by Yamal, was also tipped onto the bar. Barcelona’s repeated misfortune left them chasing the game, despite dominating possession and dictating the pace.
Substitute Marcus Rashford entered in the 63rd minute and quickly made an impact. In the 70th minute, he ghosted past Jon Aramburu to head home from a pinpoint Yamal cross, registering his third league goal of the season. Barcelona’s joy lasted barely a minute, as Gonçalo Guedes restored Sociedad’s lead following a defensive lapse from Joan Garcia. The strike was clinical, giving Sociedad the momentum and leaving Barcelona scrambling to respond.
Barcelona continued to press, with Jules Koundé’s header striking the bar and other attempts narrowly missing. In the 88th minute, Sociedad were reduced to ten men after Carlos Soler received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Pedri. Despite the numerical advantage, Barcelona could not find a way past Remiro, who produced crucial saves in the final minutes. Sociedad held firm, completing a famous victory that highlighted their resilience and defensive organization.
Rashford’s impact off the bench was the highlight for Barcelona, while Lamine Yamal’s creativity was evident throughout. Sociedad’s Oyarzabal and Guedes proved decisive, with Guedes’ winner immediately following Rashford’s equalizer. Joan Garcia’s errors contributed to Barcelona’s defeat, while Remiro’s performance kept Sociedad ahead under heavy pressure. The home side finished with 10 men but still managed to withstand Barca’s attacks, marking their second consecutive home win against the La Liga leaders.
Barcelona remain top of La Liga with 49 points from 20 games but are now only one point clear of Real Madrid, reigniting the title race. Sociedad move up to eighth, with morale boosted by a hard-fought victory. Barcelona will turn their focus to midweek fixtures, where the play Czech side Slavia Praha in the Champions League before hosting Real Oviedo in La Liga next weekend. Real Sociedad return to action next weekend when the host Celta Vigo looking to maintain momentum and continue their strong home form. This match will be remembered for VAR drama, late goals, and Rashford’s brief but impactful cameo.
