April 22, (THEWILL) – Barcelona’s bid for a top-four finish got a big boost on Thursday as Xavi’s side beat Real Sociedad by a lone goal away from home.
The Catalans were on top in the first half and deserved their lead, which came courtesy of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang header, but they let up after halftime and had Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank for keeping their advantage.
Barcelona was fortunate not to fall behind early in the game as well. Swedish forward Alexander Isak put Ter Stegen in a difficult situation with some nervy play around the back, but his clearance hit the Swede and went wide by the whiskers.
The visitors were celebrating just a few minutes later as Aubameyang hit the ball in from a few yards out. Ousmane Dembele had initially hit the post after a wonderful passing play, but Gavi reclaimed control and found Ferran Torres, whose lobbed pass put it on a plate for Aubameyang to score.
After that, things became a little scrappy, and Barcelona’s next big chance would not arrive for another 20 minutes. Frenkie de Jong came close with a side-footed shot from the edge of the area that was not far away.
Sociedad had a particularly difficult time finding opportunities. A cross provided an opportunity for Alexander Sorloth, but his header was not particularly difficult for Ter Stegen to deal with.
Torres and Aubameyang both came close to adding a second goal before the half, but both shot wide, and Xavi’s charges were almost forced to pay for their blunder when Isak missed a wonderful chance to equalise shortly before the break. The youthful attacker had a one-on-one opportunity but dragged his effort wide.
Sorloth missed a sitter only minutes after the second half started. The Norway international was found at the back post by Adnan Januzaj’s cross, but he could not control his strike and the opportunity was lost.
Soon after the hour mark, Sorloth came calling again, forcing Ter Stegen to make an amazing save to keep Barcelona’s lead. For a time, the visitors were clinging on as La Real grabbed control of the game, dominating possession and pressing Xavi’s men.
Januzaj put in another dangerous cross that went all the way through a crowded box, requiring another quick stop from Ter Stegen as it appeared to be heading for the side netting.
Barcelona gradually improved in the second half, and with 17 minutes remaining, they got their first serious chance. Gavi found more space in the box this time, but the young midfielder was unable to control his effort and fired it off target.
The visitors were able to cling on and earn a huge three points, but they paid a heavy price. Ronald Araujo, Gerard Pique, and Dani Alves all left the game injured, but Jordi Alba played the entire second half despite a nasty knock.
Barcelona earned the points that saw them climb back to second place, with a six-point lead and a game in hand, improving their chances of finishing in the top four.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
