Rather a lot was mentioned concerning the weird objective distinction between Barcelona and Actual Sociedad forward of final evening’s conflict at Reale Area. The previous, in spite of everything, are La Liga’s top-scoring facet whereas the latter had recorded the least targets within the league.
A parallel script, nevertheless, was round their comparable defensive document the place the Basque facet narrowly edged Barcelona. That, in the long run, was satirically the deciding issue.
Hansi Flick’s facet La Actual’s defence all through the 90 minutes and had been outplayed in largely all features of the sport. The one objective got here from Sheraldo Becker within the thirty third minute and that proved to be decisive.
Barça Common brings you three takeaways from Actual Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona.
Humbled finally
A periodic actuality verify is critical for each workforce, even Europe’s most dominant forces and final evening supplied precisely that for Barcelona. In any case, it highlighted a number of deep-seated issues and issues that should be addressed.
Sunday evening’s efficiency was underwhelming from the Catalans throughout the sector. The defence seemed leakier than typical whereas the likes of Pedri in midfield seemed comparatively exhausted.
Even the attackers Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski had been removed from their influential greatest within the ultimate third and seemed reasonably fatigued and the statement attracts severe consideration as to if Flick’s system is sustainable in the long term.
With the brand new dynamics demanding loads from the gamers bodily, it’s not simple to maintain the identical stage week in and week out for the complete season and the truth that gamers like De Jong and Lewandowski left limping confirms that concern.
Sunday can nicely to dismissed as an off evening for the complete workforce and there might because the two-week hiatus might serve them nicely. Credit score the place it’s due, nevertheless, Actual Sociedad had been very spectacular with their play.
La Actual pressed relentlessly for 90 minutes, stopping Barcelona from having any sort of momentum or grip on the sport. Lamine Yamal’s absence solely helped them as Barcelona’s counter-attacking risk was considerably lowered.
On the ball, their play was elegant as they slipped by way of the excessive line of defense with ease and beat the offside entice with exactly timed runs from the second line.
Actual Sociedad’s efficiency final evening will function a template for all groups dealing with Barcelona right here on. Flick didn’t have the solutions yesterday however should conjure options quickly.
The VAR tragedy strikes
VAR had been very variety to Barcelona up till final evening’s conflict, frequently ruling out opposition targets rightly for offside with little to no controversy. Simply when it was showing to be too good to be true, tragedy struck and the Blaugrana’s nemesis struck tragically.
Lewandowski’s objective final evening shall be talked about for the months to come back given the match state of affairs, the ultimate outcome and that was made regardless of the presence of semi-automated VAR and it’s clear that no quantity of know-how can guarantee 100% precision.
The Polish striker initially opened the scoring within the first half with a well-worked end and celebrated the objective rightfully. In truth, Barcelona took the objective with no consideration and even the replay confirmed him to be clearly onside.
The semi-automated VAR, nevertheless, misinterpret the defender’s foot to be Lewandowski’s and deemed him to be offside from a place the place he was clearly onside, denying Barcelona the lead.
Had the guests scored first, the story might nicely have taken a distinct flip. In any case, they had been wanting good till that time limit.
Undoing of the benefit
Barcelona earned a hard-fought and stable six-point lead over Actual Madrid two matchdays in the past enjoying in El Clasico and successful at Santiago Bernabeu.
All of that went to useless final evening because the Catalans dropped three full factors and had been unable to even salvage a draw in opposition to Actual Sociedad.
For all their optimistic showings in La Liga this season, Barcelona have dropped factors purely in losses and their two defeats are equal to 3 attracts.
Their lead over Los Blancos is now lowered to a mere six factors. Contemplating that the arch-rivals have a sport in hand, furthermore, it might boil down to simply three factors.
Nonetheless, the Barcelona followers will hope that Flick can establish the difficulty and are available again with higher dynamics within the subsequent sport.