Barcelona Claims LaLiga Summit with Convincing Win Against 10-Man Real Sociedad

After a solid beginning, Real Sociedad suffered a significant setback when Aritz Elustondo received a red card, leading to a heavy 4-0 defeat against a formidable Barcelona side, who seized the opportunity to take the lead in the LaLiga standings.

Neither team managed a shot in the opening quarter-hour, but both had early chances to find the net.

Soon after the match commenced, Sociedad’s celebrations were abruptly halted when Sergio Gomez’s deflected shot was chalked off for offside in the build-up. This allowed Barcelona to counter, yet Pedri’s follow-up was blocked, only to loop harmlessly onto the roof of the net as Alex Remiro scrambled to clear the danger.

The visitors seemed to be gaining momentum, hitting the crossbar through Orri Oskarsson, who arguably should have done better in a one-on-one situation, though he was ultimately flagged offside.

However, Los Txuri-urdin found themselves on the back foot moments later when a swift run from Dani Olmo exposed their defence, leading captain Elustondo to bring down the Barca player, forcing referee Alejandro Quintero Gonzalez to brandish the red card.

With Sociedad reduced to ten men, Blaugrana took advantage just seven minutes later. Lamine Yamal dazzled a defender before passing to Olmo, who calmly set up 23-year-old Gerard Martin to convert his first professional goal at the back post.

By the 30-minute mark, Barcelona had doubled their advantage thanks to another assist from Olmo.

This time, however, it was less deliberate, as Olmo unleashed a strike from the edge of the box that found the net via a deflection off Marc Casado—who also celebrated his inaugural goal for Barcelona—and the left post.

The away team had the odds stacked against them, offering little as Pedri sent a powerful shot from distance crashing into the woodwork just after the break.

If the match wasn’t already beyond reach, two quickfire goals within five minutes early in the second half confirmed the outcome.

Ronald Araujo was first to pounce after Robert Lewandowski’s header from a corner was parried away, marking his first league goal of the season. Shortly after, he turned provider, as his long-range effort was deflected past Remiro by Lewandowski.

Lewandowski missed a chance for a second goal in the dying moments with a poorly timed header, but the result was already secured.

Now on an unbeaten streak of 15 matches in all competitions (W12, D3), Hansi Flick’s Barcelona has soared to the summit of the LaLiga table, a point ahead of Atletico Madrid and three clear of Real Madrid in third.

It was a challenging afternoon for Sociedad, culminating in a somewhat anticipated defeat—marking their 26th loss in 27 league encounters away from home against Barcelona—leaving Imanol Alguacil’s team in ninth place within a tightly packed midtable.