Real Sociedad 2-1 FC Barcelona Player Ratings: La Liga Toppers End Their Unbeaten Run with Away Defeat

A high-flying Barcelona were up against Real Sociedad in an away La Liga game, where Hansi Flick decided to rest their key man, Raphinha. The Catalans, on a nine-match winning streak, kicked things off dominantly, with Lamine Yamal leading the attack.

Real Sociedad, however, put up a spirited performance to snatch a 2-1 victory at home. In this article, we'll discuss Real Sociedad vs Barcelona player ratings from the La Liga fixture.

The Catalans, however, were left frustrated in the first half as three of their goals were disallowed due to offside. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad took a stunning lead, with captain Mikel Oyarzabal scoring a spectacular goal to give the hosts an edge in the game.

Moments before the break, Barca had almost earned a penalty following a foul on Yamal, but there was already an offside on the buildup. Real Sociedad managed to hold on to that narrow lead at the whistle.

Barcelona kept pushing for the equaliser in the second half, but the home side was in no mood to surrender. Barca also seemed unlucky as two of their strikes bounced off the post. On the other hand, Sociedad keeper Alex Remiro appeared in sublime form and denied a few promising shots to keep the lead.

Marcus Rashford ultimately emerged as the super-sub for Barcelona, bringing the equaliser with a wonderful header. Real Sociedad responded instantly, and Goncalo Guedes restored the lead for the hosts. It was a prolific attack from the kick-off that tore apart the Barca defense.

In the 82nd minute, Jules Kounde had almost equalised for Barcelona, but his header once again struck the post. A few moments later, the hosts were down to ten men as Carlos Soler saw a straight red for a foul on Pedri.

FC Barcelona might have tried anything and everything, but the equaliser never came as their unbeaten run was finally ended by Real Sociedad.

Key Takeaways

1. Barcelona saw three first-half goals ruled out, while Mikel Oyarzabal struck to give Sociedad the lead.
2. Marcus Rashford came off the bench to level the score, but Gonçalo Guedes replied almost immediately.
3. Barcelona hit the woodwork repeatedly and failed to equalise despite Sociedad finishing with ten men.

FC Barcelona Player Ratings vs Real Sociedad

Here are Sportsdunia's Barcelona player ratings from the LaLiga game:

Goalkeeper

Joan García - 6.0: It was a tough night for the goalkeeper, conceding two goals. He couldn't do much about either finish, to be fair. Both were well-placed and powerful strikes. He made a couple of routine saves and his distribution was decent enough. However, he wasn't really tested beyond the goals in a way that would have let him be a hero. A standard performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Alejandro Balde - 6.0: Had some bright moments going forward, creating a big chance. He tried to offer width and get in behind the defense. Defensively however, he was a bit exposed at times. He was subbed off just after the hour mark as Flick looked for a different approach. A decent but not spectacular outing for the young fullback.

Pau Cubarsí - 7.0: From our perspective, the young defender was one of Barcelona's better players. He was incredibly composed on the ball, with a 98% pass accuracy. He read the game well, making some crucial tackles and clearances. He even won most of his duels. It's rare to see such maturity from a player so young, a bright spot on a disappointing evening.

Jules Koundé - 5.5: A really difficult game for the Frenchman. He looked shaky and lost possession far too often in dangerous areas. He hit the crossbar late on, which summed up his and Barcelona's frustrating night. Defensively, he struggled to contain the Real Sociedad attackers. Not his best performance by a long stretch, and he looked frustrated with himself.

Eric García - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular game from García. He was tidy in possession and made several important clearances and interceptions. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles but generally held his own. He was strong in the air, winning most of his aerial duels. A committed performance, but part of a defense that ultimately conceded twice.

Midfielders

Pedri - 7.5: He was the heartbeat of the Barcelona midfield, as usual. He had an incredible 108 touches and was constantly trying to make things happen. He created three chances and was a ball-winning machine, recovering it 10 times. He drew five fouls, showing how much the opposition struggled to handle him. A classy performance, but even his magic wasn't enough.

Fermín López - 7.0: An all-action display from the midfielder. He was devastated to have his early goal ruled out by VAR. He didn't let it affect him, though, and continued to get into good positions and take shots. He was a bundle of energy, recovering the ball nine times. His drive from midfield was a constant threat, even if his final product was sometimes lacking.

Frenkie de Jong - 7.0: The captain put in a tidy and controlled performance in the middle of the park. He kept possession ticking over with a 91% pass accuracy. He also contributed defensively with tackles and clearances. It was a typical de Jong performance; smooth on the ball and intelligent in his positioning. He provided the platform for the more creative players to shine.

Forwards

Ferran Torres - 6.0: A quiet evening for Torres. He had one shot on target that was well-saved, but otherwise, he struggled to get involved. He was dispossessed and dribbled past too easily on a couple of occasions. He was subbed off after an hour having made little impact on the game. A frustrating outing where he just couldn't seem to find his rhythm.

Lamine Yamal - 9.5: What a player. This kid is absolutely sensational and was the best player on the pitch. He created a staggering seven chances, completed 11 dribbles, and provided the assist for the equalizer. He was a constant nightmare for the Real Sociedad defense. He deserved to be on the winning side. This was a truly special, highest-rated player performance.

Dani Olmo - 6.5: He was very involved in the first half, taking six shots and hitting the woodwork twice. He was unlucky not to score. However, he missed three big chances, and that lack of a clinical edge proved costly. He worked hard but was replaced just after the hour mark. An active but ultimately frustrating performance.

Substitutes

João Cancelo - 6.5: Came on for Balde and offered a bit more stability and experience down the left side.

Marcus Rashford - 7.5: Made the perfect impact. He came on and immediately scored the equalizer with a sharp header. He gave Barcelona a cutting edge they had been missing all game. A fantastic cameo.

Roony Bardghji - 6.0: Had a late shot from distance that was saved but didn't have much time to influence the game.

Gerard Martín - N/A: Came on very late in the game.

Manager

H. Flick - 6.0: His team dominated possession and created numerous chances but lost the game. Tactically, they opened Real Sociedad up time and again, but the lack of clinical finishing is a major concern. His substitutions were positive, with Rashford scoring, but it wasn't enough. He'll be furious to have lost a game they should have won.

Real Sociedad Player Ratings vs FC Barcelona

Check out Real Sociedad player ratings from the Real Sociedad vs Barcelona clash:

Goalkeeper

Álex Remiro - 9.0: A truly magnificent, match-winning performance. He made eight saves, many of them spectacular, to keep his team in the game. From our perspective, he was the main reason Real Sociedad won this match. His saves to deny Torres and a late header were world-class. An absolute wall in goal.

Defenders

Jon Aramburu - 6.0: Had a very tough time dealing with the Barcelona attackers on his flank. He was booked and struggled in his duels. However, he stuck to his task and made a number of important clearances. It was a difficult defensive assignment that he battled through bravely before being substituted.

Igor Zubeldia - 6.5: A warrior's performance at the back. He put his body on the line, making seven clearances and blocking two shots. He was booked for a cynical foul but it was a necessary one. He was a key part of a defense that was under siege for large parts of the game. A very committed display.

Sergio Gómez - 5.5: Really struggled against the trickery of Lamine Yamal. He was dribbled past six times, which is a defender's nightmare. He tried to get stuck in with tackles but was often second best. It was a relief for him when he was substituted in the second half. A tough, tough evening.

Jon Martín - 6.0: It was a challenging game for the defender. He lost most of his duels and struggled against the fluid movement of the Barcelona forwards. He made a couple of clearances and a block, but was often on the back foot. He worked hard but it was a real test of his defensive abilities.

Midfielders

Beñat Turrientes - 6.0: A battling but brief display. He was full of energy and got a tackle in but was booked for a poor foul. He was sacrificed before the hour mark as the manager looked to change things up. He worked hard but couldn't really stamp his authority on the game.

Gonçalo Guedes - 8.0: The hero of the hour. Provided a brilliant assist for the first goal and then scored a sensational winner. What a strike it was, flying into the top corner. Although his passing was erratic at times, he delivered the two most important moments of the match. A decisive and explosive performance.

Takefusa Kubo - 6.5: Showed flashes of his quality with some nice dribbles and created one chance. However, he lost the ball too often in promising situations. He was a threat but his final product wasn't quite there on the night. He was forced off with an injury in the second half.

Carlos Soler - 4.0: It was a mixed bag that ended in disaster. He provided a clever assist for the winning goal, a moment of real quality. But his straight red card late in the game was inexcusable. It put his team under immense pressure and could have cost them the win. A moment of madness that overshadowed his positive contribution.

Forwards

Mikel Oyarzabal - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was in the right place at the right time to score the crucial opening goal. He worked tirelessly, although he was frustrated by the offside flag a few times. His finish was pure instinct. He was a constant nuisance for the Barcelona defence and never stopped running.

Brais Méndez - 5.5: A very quiet game for the attacker. He struggled to get involved, losing possession frequently. He was ineffective and was rightly substituted before the hour mark. He just couldn't find a way into the game and made no real impact. A performance to forget.

Substitutes

Jon Gorrotxategi - 6.0: Came on and added some fresh legs to the midfield battle.

Álvaro Odriozola - 6.5: Provided a good cross that led to a missed chance and was solid after coming on.

Aihen Muñoz - 6.0: Helped shore up the defence in the final stages.

Ander Barrenetxea - 6.0: Brought on for the injured Kubo but didn't have a major impact.

Duje Caleta-Car - 6.0: Added height and defensive presence to see out the game.

Manager

P. Matarazzo - 7.5: His team might have ridden their luck, but his game plan worked. They were clinical when it mattered and defended with incredible spirit. His team was organised and resilient, especially after the red card. A fantastic result born out of grit and determination. He outsmarted his counterpart on the night.

Man of the Match

Despite Barca losing, Lamine Yamal delivered an impressive performance and had a rating of 9.5/10.

Worst Performer

Carlos Soler left the field after seeing a straight red minutes before the final whistle.