Barcelona 2-1 Real Sociedad Player Ratings: Pedri Rated 9/10 as Barca Secures Comeback Victory 2-1

FC Barcelona seized the chance to top the La Liga table with 19 points, regaining first place after Real Madrid's 5-2 loss in the La Liga. Surprisingly, Hansi Flick rotated his squad for the Getafe match, giving chances to players like Roony Bardghji, Dro Fernández, and Andreas Christensen, while resting regulars for the upcoming showdown with reigning UEFA Champions League winners, PSG. However, Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper Alex Remiro proved a tough barrier in a recent La Liga game, allowing just two goals and making the match difficult for defending champions FC Barcelona with his standout performance.

This was a classic La Liga battle of attrition. Real Sociedad came out with a clear plan, defending deep and looking to strike on the counter. They executed it perfectly for the opening goal.

FC Barcelona, on the other hand, looked a bit stunned to go behind. They dominated the ball, as you'd expect, but struggled to break down a resilient Sociedad defence. We noticed a lot of sideways passing without much penetration in the first half hour.

The game completely changed after Álvaro Odriozola's opener. It seemed to wake Barcelona up. The equalizer from Jules Koundé just before halftime felt inevitable given the pressure they were building. The second half was all about whether Barça could find a winner, and they did through the clinical Robert Lewandowski, sealing a crucial match victory.

Here are Barcelona Vs Real Sociedad Player Ratings

Barcelona Player Ratings vs Real Sociedad

Here are Barcelona Player Ratings vs Real Sociedad

Goalkeeper

Wojciech Szczesny - 6.5: Had very little to do for most of the game. He couldn't be faulted for the goal he conceded. From our perspective, it was a well-placed shot. Made one routine save and distributed the ball adequately. A quiet evening overall for the keeper.

Defenders

Ronald Araujo - 7.0: A typically solid performance from the captain. He was strong in the air, winning 3 of his 4 aerial duels. We noticed his leadership at the back, organizing the line. He kept things simple and effective, making 5 crucial clearances. Just a reliable presence.

Andreas Christensen - 7.5: What stood out to us was his calmness on the ball. An incredible 98% pass accuracy shows how composed he was under pressure. He read the game well and made 6 clearances. He almost never puts a foot wrong, a truly classy defender.

Gerard Martín - 6.5: A steady performance at fullback. He won most of his duels and tried to get forward when he could. He wasn't spectacular, but he didn't make any glaring errors either. Did his job before being substituted in the second half.

Jules Koundé - 7.0: A real mixed bag of a game for him. He scored the vital equalizer with a powerful header. But, he also received a yellow card and made an error that led to a shot. His goal was crucial, but we expected a bit more defensive solidity from him.

Midfielders

Pedri - 9.0: Absolutely masterful. This was one of those performances that reminds you why he's so highly rated. He had 130 touches, orchestrating everything from the middle of the park. His passing was incisive, and he was a constant threat. From our perspective, he was the best player on the pitch by a mile and our highest-rated player.

Frenkie de Jong - 8.5: If Pedri was the artist, de Jong was the engine. He complemented his midfield partner perfectly. With 98% pass accuracy and 3 key passes, he controlled the tempo of the entire game. He recovered the ball, drove forward, and rarely wasted a pass. A top-tier display.

Marcus Rashford - 5.0: This was a frustrating performance to watch. He got the assist for the equalizer, which bumps his rating up slightly. However, he lost possession an astonishing 22 times. He took 6 shots but seemed to lack composure. Personally, we were disappointed with his decision-making.

Pedro Fernández - 6.0: He had a decent first half. He created a couple of chances and looked tidy on the ball. He didn't do much wrong but was sacrificed at halftime for a tactical change. An unremarkable but solid 45 minutes of football.

R. Bardghji - 6.5: He was a livewire during his time on the pitch. His 5 successful dribbles caused some problems for the Sociedad defence. We liked his directness and willingness to take players on. He was substituted just before the hour, but it was a promising outing.

Forwards

Robert Lewandowski - 8.0: The match-winner. He was a nuisance for the defenders all game, getting caught offside a few times but always on the shoulder. He took his goal with the classic predatory instinct we know him for. He also hit the woodwork. A clinical and decisive performance.

Substitutes

Dani Olmo - 6.5: Came on at halftime and added some energy. He had a couple of shots on target but couldn't add to the scoreline. A solid contribution.

Lamine Yamal - 8.0: What an impact. He was on the pitch for less than a minute before providing the assist for the winning goal. His introduction completely changed the dynamic of the attack. Game-changing substitution.

Eric García - 6.0: Brought on late to see out the win. He did his defensive duties without any fuss.

Ferran Torres - 6.5: Looked sharp in his brief cameo. He initiated a counter-attack that nearly resulted in another goal. A bright spark off the bench.

Manager

H. Flick - 7.5: We have to give him credit. His team showed great character to come from behind. His substitutions, particularly bringing on Lamine Yamal, were spot on and directly led to the victory. He recognized what needed to change and acted decisively.

Real Sociedad Player Ratings vs Barcelona

Here are Real Sociedad Player Ratings vs Barcelona

Goalkeeper

Álex Remiro - 8.5: An absolutely heroic performance. He made 8 saves, several of which were spectacular. Without him, Barcelona could have scored four or five. He was let down by his defence for the goals, but he can hold his head high. A brilliant goalkeeping display.

Defenders

Aihen Muñoz - 6.0: He had a very difficult night against Barcelona's tricky wingers. He made an impressive 5 tackles but was also dribbled past 5 times. He worked tirelessly but was ultimately overwhelmed. A battling performance in a losing cause.

Igor Zubeldia - 6.5: A busy, busy night for the central defender. He made 10 clearances which shows how much pressure Sociedad were under. However, he also got a yellow card and struggled in his individual duels. He was a warrior but looked shaky at times.

Duje Caleta-Car - 7.0: What stood out to us were his 2 clearances off the line. He was a rock at the back for large parts of the game. Like his partner, he made 10 clearances but also picked up a booking. A very solid defensive effort despite the result.

Álvaro Odriozola - 8.0: He was fantastic before being substituted. He scored a great goal to give his team the lead. He was also solid defensively, winning most of his duels. It was a surprise to see him taken off. A complete performance from the fullback.

Midfielders

Jon Gorrotxategi - 6.0: He was completely overrun by the Barcelona midfield. He worked hard, recovering the ball 7 times. But he couldn't get a foothold in the game. From our perspective, he spent the whole match chasing shadows.

Ander Barrenetxea - 7.5: He was Real Sociedad's most creative player. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal. He also created another big chance. He was a constant threat on the break until he was substituted.

Beñat Turrientes - 5.5: A really ineffective performance. He battled hard but couldn't make an impact on the game. He lost possession frequently and offered little going forward. It wasn't a surprise when he was substituted.

Gonçalo Guedes - 5.0: A very poor showing. He was anonymous for large parts of the game. He was caught offside twice and seemed to be on a different wavelength to his teammates. We expected much more from a player of his quality.

Pablo Marín - 6.0: He had a limited impact before being withdrawn. He seemed to pick up a knock early on. He kept the ball well enough but didn't influence the game in any meaningful way.

Forwards

Mikel Oyarzabal - 6.0: The captain had a thankless task up front. He was very isolated and had to feed off scraps. He worked hard and had a few attempts on goal but never really looked like scoring. A frustrating night for him.

Substitutes

Sergio Gómez - 6.0: Came on to add defensive solidity but couldn't stem the tide.

Takefusa Kubo - 7.0: He looked very dangerous after coming on. He hit the crossbar and added a spark to Sociedad's attack. They looked much better with him on the pitch.

Carlos Soler - 6.0: Tried to get involved but the game was already slipping away.

Brais Méndez - 5.5: Had very little impact after coming on.

Umar Sadiq - N/A: Came on too late to make a difference.

Manager

S. Francisco Ramos - 6.5: His initial game plan was perfect. His team was organized and scored a great counter-attacking goal. However, his side couldn't handle Barcelona's sustained pressure. His substitutions didn't have the desired effect to turn the game back in their favour.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Pedri