Real Sociedad vs Barcelona

Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona hope to put a frustrating opening weekend behind them as they travel north to meet Real Sociedad in the second match of La ...

Look for a hungry Barcelona front line to feast as they endeavor to get off the mark, and Robert Lewandowski should open his La Liga account. Dest has been left out of the squad for both La Liga matches to start the season. Full-back Sergino Dest was left out of the squad for the second straight match as manager Xavi looks set to force the American out. His deflected pass to Isak was deposited into the back of the net from a tight angle. That sees Aihen Munoz in at left-back to replace the injured man. Lewandowski will have a point to prove today against La Real, else questions start to creep in whether he made the right decision leaving his former Bavarian side. There's a stoppage as Aihen Munoz flops to the turf on a flailing arm from Ousmane Dembele, but it's all a bit dramatic, and VAR takes no action. This is real trouble for Barcelona who are on the cusp of conceding more good chances. They are both vociferously relaying instructions to their players, and the game has devolved into a midfield chess match. It's a poor effort from the Spanish veteran, but it's only kept out by a glittering stop. La Real got off to a winning start last weekend as they beat promoted side Cadiz 1-0 thanks to a debut goal from former Real Madrid winger Takefusa Kubo. Despite an impressive preseason and a host of new attacking additions at their disposal, the Blaugrana were blanked at home against Rayo Vallecano in a 0-0 draw last week.

Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona hope to put a frustrating opening weekend behind them as they travel north to meet Real Sociedad in the second match of La ...

Look for a hungry Barcelona front line to feast as they endeavor to get off the mark, and Robert Lewandowski should open his La Liga account. Full-back Sergino Dest was left out of the squad for the second straight match as manager Xavi looks set to force the American out. Dest has been left out of the squad for both La Liga matches to start the season. That sees Aihen Munoz in at left-back to replace the injured man. Lewandowski will have a point to prove today against La Real, else questions start to creep in whether he made the right decision leaving his former Bavarian side. His deflected pass to Isak was deposited into the back of the net from a tight angle. Doesn't get easier than that, Real Sociedad won't want to see that back. This is real trouble for Barcelona who are on the cusp of conceding more good chances. There's a stoppage as Aihen Munoz flops to the turf on a flailing arm from Ousmane Dembele, but it's all a bit dramatic, and VAR takes no action. 19th min: Barcelona back line being troubled constantly by the La Real attack. La Real got off to a winning start last weekend as they beat promoted side Cadiz 1-0 thanks to a debut goal from former Real Madrid winger Takefusa Kubo. Despite an impressive preseason and a host of new attacking additions at their disposal, the Blaugrana were blanked at home against Rayo Vallecano in a 0-0 draw last week.

WELCOME TO THE REALE STADIUM!!! The Cauldron of Anoeta in the Basque Country is the site of a huge La Liga clash between Real Sociedad and Barcelona, ...

This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another. This should be fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. The Blaugrana have to play better but will have a very tough job against a brutal La Real side, and this will be a very intense 90-minute battle.

Follow all the action and related insight from Anoeta in Matchday 2 of the season, with Xavi's Barça looking to get a first win on the board.

1 He feeds Dembélé and Barça create a couple of half chances before being forced to recycle it back to the French forward who fires in a very tempting cross for Lewy. As I said in the build-up, Lewy would love a match ball to take home on his special day. After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing, another streaming counter has the home crowd raising the volume. Yes, La Real have threatened, and definitely will have chances in the second half, but I expect Barça's control to grow. What a blistering start we had to the game! The players are heading out of the tunnel and we are almost ready to go again. We often focus on the attacking and creative aspects of this new Xavi team, and understandably so, but questions remain over the defence he is building. More possession in the final third from Barça but the space is very limited and hence a killer pass all the harder to find. For all the spectacular goals he's scored, he's also bagged many, many from right in front of the target. There is still the noise you'd expect from this group of supporters - and they know their heroes will never give up the cause - but Barça have the look of a team in control of proceedings. That fourth goal took out all the Basque wind from the sails and there's even a hint of a swagger about Barça.

But the insanity was just beginning as both teams turned a football match into a basketball game with non-stop, up-and-down action with constant counter attacks ...

This was just as tough as expected in the first half, but the squad depth and Xavi’s courage and excellent game management made the difference in the second. Sociedad tried to get a second goal in the dying moments but Barça stayed organized, and the final whistle came to give them all three points at Anoeta. Just two minutes later Ansu was again heavily involved in a goal as he received a pass from Pedri inside the box and played it perfectly into the path of Lewandowski, who doubled the lead with his second goal of the night.

Xavi lined up his team a very unorthodox manner, using Frenkie de Jong and one of Gavi and Pedri as the double pivot. The Spanish duo rotated duties between ...

Set up Ansu Fati for the fourth, as well, even though it did not count as an assist. He was unable to combine with the team, and looked very rusty off the ball, as well. Scored his first goal for Barcelona in the first minute and added another one 67 minutes later. That changed, however, when Xavi shifted him to the left for the final half an hour. Raphinha’s involvement will go under the radar by many, but his passing unlocked Sociedad’s defence multiple times. Not only was he unable to do that well, his lack of awareness led to Sociedad’s goal. He combined brilliantly with Lewandowski, and was involved in all three goals the visitors scored. Xavi lined up his team a very unorthodox manner, using Frenkie de Jong and one of Gavi and Pedri as the double pivot. Should have been subbed off earlier, though, for his own good. Barcelona made that trip today, hoping to register their first win of the season. Almost made a heroic tackle to stop Sociedad’s equaliser, too. De Jong was playing in his natural role, tonight, for the first time in a while.

Robert Lewandowski scored a brace as Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 victory at Real Sociedad on Sunday, their first win of the new LaLiga season.

"Today we made attacking changes, bringing on Raphinha and Ansu for Balde and Ferran [Torres]. We lacked that in the first half. We played well in spells." We spoke at the break about attacking the space better, that is what we needed to do. "We play with more patience, like in the second half, we're much better. [La Liga on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S.

Barca were being held until the moment Ansu Fati came off the bench, his brilliant back-heel set up Ousmane Dembele to score to regain the lead. Pedri then ...

5’ – GOAL (ISAK) – De Jong is robbed in possession in his own half and Silva slides a good through ball to the through on goal Swedish striker. A fantastic team goal, Raphinha fires one into Fati in the middle on the edge of the box. Isak is a tad wide but his strike takes a deflection off the trying to block Garcia and loops over the keeper. 1’ – GOAL (LEWANDOWSKI) – It's the birthday boy with his first goal in a Barca shirt - Lewandowski. They simply turned on the style and the hosts could not cope with their quality as Lewandowski and Fati took control of the game to seal three points. The match got off to a flying start when Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal for the Catalan giants just 43 seconds into the game.

Aug 21 (Reuters) - Robert Lewandowski scored a brace as Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 victory at Real Sociedad on Sunday, their first win of the new LaLiga ...

"Today we made attacking changes, bringing on Raphinha and Ansu for Balde and Ferran [Torres]. We lacked that in the first half. We played well in spells." We spoke at the break about attacking the space better, that is what we needed to do. "We play with more patience, like in the second half, we're much better. [La Liga on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S.

Aug 21 (Reuters) - Robert Lewandowski scored a brace as Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 victory at Real Sociedad on Sunday, their first win of the new LaLiga season. Spanish teenage sensation Ansu Fati, who has been struggling to recover after a series of ...

"Today we made attacking changes, bringing on Raphinha and Ansu for Balde and Ferran [Torres]. We lacked that in the first half. We played well in spells." We spoke at the break about attacking the space better, that is what we needed to do. "We play with more patience, like in the second half, we're much better. [La Liga on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S.