Barcelona’s rampant second-half performance leads to an impressive win against Real Sociedad at Reale Arena.
The visitors made their mark instantly when Lewandowski finished Balde’s cross.
But Sociedad struck back through Isak’s scruffy finish. And the hosts had chances to take the lead, only for wasteful misses from Silva and Kubo.
For the first 15 minutes of the second half, it looked like Sociedad would push harder for a winner – but then Fati came on.
The young attacker set up Dembele and Lewandowski with superb assists to make it 3-1.
Before, Ansu FAti sealed the game himself with an excellent finish.
Barcelona ran out of 4-1 winners, but it all hung in the balance until Fati’s arrival.
Starting lineup:
REAL SOCIEDAD (4-3-1-2): Alex Remiro; Aritz Elustondo, Igor Zubeldia, Robin Le Normand, Aihen Munoz; Brais Mendez, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino; David Silva; Alexander Isak, Takefusa Kubo.
SUBS: Benat Turrientes, Asier Illarramendi, Andoni Gorosabel, Roberto Navarro, Jon Karrikaburu, Ander Guevara, Mohamed Ali-Cho, Urko Gonzalez, Andoni Zubiaurri, Ander Barrenetxea, Jon Pacheco Dozagarat, Jon Ander Olasagasti.
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia, Alejandro Balde; Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi; Ousmane Dembele, Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres.
SUBS: Ansu Fati, Jordi Alba, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Pablo Torre, Sergi Roberto, Memphis Depay, Franck Kessie, Inaki Pena, Raphinha, Gerard Pique, Arnau Tenas, Miralem Pjanic.
Goals:
GOAL! LEWANDOWSKI! 1-0. Barcelona takes an instant lead. Sociedad appeals for a penalty at one end as Kubo goes down under De Jong’s challenge, but the referee plays on, and the visitors break. Balde leads a counter down the left flank before rolling it towards Lewandowksi, who clinically fires a first-time strike into the bottom corner from eight yards!
GOAL! ISAK! 1-1. Sociedad equalise. Kubo and Merino swarm De Jong in midfield and snatch possession back for the hosts. Silva quickly sends it through for Isak, whose close-range strike deflects off Garcia, over Ter Stegen and in!
GOAL! DEMBELE! 2-1. Barcelona retakes the lead. Fati receives a pass on the edge of the box before flicking an exquisite backheel through to Dembele to open up the Sociedad defence. The attacker touches before lashing a superb low strike into the far corner and beyond Remiro from 12 yards!
GOAL! LEWANDOWSKI! 3-1. Barcelona gets two in two minutes. An intricate move culminates with De Jong feeding Fati inside the box, with the ball ricocheting off the attacker and into the path of Lewandowski, who coolly slots it into the bottom corner from eight yards!
GOAL! FATI! 4-1. Fati wraps it up with an excellent goal. Lewandowski flicks a loose ball goalwards on the edge of the box. Fati anticipates the opportunity and runs into the ball’s path before placing it around Remiro and in from 10 yards!
So, what’s next?
The result means that Sociedad fell to 10th, while Barcelona rise to fifth.
