Barcelona, the leaders of La Liga, lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad on Sunday after a disputed goal from Robert Lewandowski was disallowed. After playing an additional game, Hansi Flick’s team is now six points ahead of Real Madrid in second place after Sheraldo Becker’s strike in the 33rd minute condemned the Catalan giants to their second league loss of the year. After Lewandowski’s first goal was disallowed, there was intense discussion about whether or not the Polish forward had been offside. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was sidelined for Barcelona’s Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade due to an injury to his ankle, which severely hindered his play.
As Real Sociedad, in ninth place, stood strong as Barcelona failed to muster a single shot on goal, the Catalans failed to score in a game for the first time this season across all competitions. Barcelona midfielder Pedri told Movistar, “We have to learn from our mistakes and that’s that.” “It’s a tough place to go, where La Real pushes a lot.”
We typically score goals, but today we weren’t accurate. I believe this will be an isolated incident, and we’ll be more accurate in the games that follow. “I think the group is working well and this (not scoring) doesn’t constitute something that worries me.”
While defender Pau Cubarsi played in a mask following a cut that required stitches on his face in Serbia, playmaker Dani Olmo began on the bench. The Catalans were given another unpleasant night in the Basque nation after struggling in San Sebastian in the past.
After 13 minutes, Lewandowski thought he had put Barcelona ahead when he scored after a good reaction to a blocked shot, but a VAR review disallowed the goal. Lewandowski did not seem to be in front of Real Sociedad defender Nayef Aguerd, but referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez was informed that the attacker was offside.
The front of Lewandowski’s boot was off according to La Liga’s semi-automated offside technology, but Spanish media vehemently disputed whether the technology had mistakenly read Aguerd’s heel as a component of the seasoned striker’s footwear.
La Real is in command.
After Barcelona’s goal was ruled out, the home team had the upper hand and repeatedly put visiting goalkeeper Inaki Pena to the test. After the Japan international dribbled finely inside from the right flank, Takefusa Kubo’s low drive hurt Pena’s fingers.
Luka Sucic nodded the ball into Becker’s path, and he finished coolly and low to put Real Sociedad ahead. At halftime, Flick replaced the unproductive Frenkie de Jong with Olmo, but Barcelona was still in second place.