Barcelona stormed back to thetop of LaLiga with a resounding 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday, extending their winning streak to seven league matches. Hansi Flick’s side barely broke a sweat as they dismantled a 10-man Sociedad, who failed to register a single shot or even an expected goal (0.00 xG) in what was a completely one-sided contest at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc.
Goals from Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo, and Robert Lewandowski secured an emphatic win for Barcelona, who took full advantage of Aritz Elustondo’s early red card. The visitors struggled to cope after going a man down, allowing Barca to dictate proceedings and seal the victory without much resistance.
This dominant display keeps the Catalan giants at the LaLiga summit, above Atletico Madrid, who had briefly taken the top spot with their win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. Real Madrid, meanwhile, slipped to third after their shock defeat at Real Betis.
Now, Flick’s attention turns to Wednesday’s crucial Champions League last-16 tie against Benfica, where Barcelona will hope to carry their scintillating domestic form onto the European stage.
A One Sided Encounter from the Start.
The match started with Real Sociedad showing some early promise, as they looked to test Barcelona’s defense. In the opening exchanges, they even found the back of the net through Sergio Gomez, but the goal was swiftly ruled out for offside. That was as close as La Real would come to troubling Barca all evening.
The game’s complexion changed dramatically in the 17th minute when Elustondo was sent off for pulling down Dani Olmo just outside the box. The Sociedad defender had little choice but to commit the foul, as Olmo was through on goal and poised to strike. The referee had no hesitation in brandishing the red card, reducing Sociedad to 10 men with more than 70 minutes still to play.
From that moment on, Barcelona took full control. Flick’s men enjoyed complete dominance in possession, patiently probing for openings in a Sociedad side now forced into an ultra-defensive shape.
Barcelona’s Quickfire Double Ends the Contest Early.
It did not take long for Barcelona to make their numerical advantage count. In the 25th minute, Dani Olmo, who had been lively throughout, turned provider, chipping a delicate ball into the box for Gerard Martin. The young midfielder finished with aplomb, rifling the ball past Alex Remiro for the first senior goal of his career.
Barely four minutes later, Barca doubled their advantage. Olmo was involved once again, though this time more by accident than design. His wayward shot deflected off teammate Marc Casado and wrong-footed Remiro before nestling into the net.
At 2-0, the game was effectively over as a contest. Sociedad’s hopes of mounting any sort of comeback were crushed not just by their numerical disadvantage but also by their complete inability to threaten Barca’s defense. They barely ventured into the final third, and incredibly, ended the game with just one solitary touch inside Barcelona’s penalty box.
Araujo and Lewandowski Seal the Rout.
The second half was more of the same, with Barcelona dictating play and Sociedad sitting deep in a desperate attempt to avoid further punishment.
Pedri, who was instrumental in midfield, came close to adding a third when his long-range effort smacked against the crossbar. The Spanish playmaker also had an earlier effort saved by Remiro, who was the only Sociedad player to emerge from the game with any credit.
However, the third goal did arrive just after the hour mark. Ronald Araujo, making his usual contributions at both ends of the pitch, was quickest to react after Remiro parried Lewandowski’s header from a corner. The Uruguayan nodded home the rebound to make it 3-0, marking his first LaLiga goal of the season.
Araujo was not finished there. Just minutes later, he turned provider, drilling a low shot from distance that was cleverly redirected into the net by Lewandowski. The Polish striker’s instinctive finish took his tally to 21 goals in 25 league appearances this season, making him LaLiga’s top scorer.
With a commanding 4-0 lead, Barcelona eased off in the final half-hour, content to control possession without exerting unnecessary energy. Substitute Ferran Torres came close to adding a fifth on two occasions, but Remiro denied him both times.
RecordBreaking Barca March On.
Barcelona’s performance was not just dominant but also historically significant. Their 124 goals in 40 games across all competitions this season is the highest tally by a LaLiga club at this stage of a campaign since Real Madrid’s 132 in 1959-60.
Much of that success has been down to Lewandowski, whose 34 goals in 37 games make him the most prolific striker in Europe’s top five leagues. At 36, he remains a world-class poacher, and his ability to convert even half-chances continues to be a major asset for Barcelona.
Araujo also reached a personal milestone by registering both a goal and an assist in the same match for the first time in his Barca career. The Uruguayan defender has been an immense presence in Flick’s system, offering defensive solidity while also proving a threat in attack.
Sociedad’s Worst Offensive Display in Years.
While Barcelona’s attacking exploits stole the headlines, their defensive discipline was just as impressive. Flick’s side completely nullified Sociedad, limiting them to an astonishingly poor attacking output. La Real became the first team in LaLiga this season to finish a match without a single shot. Their 0.00 xG was a damning statistic that highlighted just how ineffective they were going forward.
For Imanol Alguacil’s side, this was a sobering night. Sociedad, who currently sit ninth in the table, have struggled for consistency this season, and this latest defeat raises further questions about their ability to challenge for a European spot. Their early promising spell counted for nothing after Elustondo’s red card, and their lack of attacking ambition after going behind was particularly concerning.
Eyes on the Champions League.
With LaLiga’s top spot secured for another week, Barcelona’s focus now shifts to their Champions League last-16 clash against Benfica on Wednesday. Flick will be pleased that his side managed to cruise through this game without expending too much energy, allowing him to rotate his squad for the upcoming fixture.
The German coach will also take great encouragement from the way his team controlled the game, as they will need a similar level of composure and ruthlessness when they take on the Portuguese giants.
Real Sociedad, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly. Their European qualification hopes are still alive, but they cannot afford too many performances like this if they want to secure a top-six finish.
