Barcelona achieved a 2-1 Comeback victory on Real Sociedad on Sunday that it sent it at the top of La Liga 2025-26 rankings after it turned the match with goals from Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski on either side of the peace.
The sixth victory of Barcelona in seven games moved the champion to 19 points, a point above Real Madrid, while Real Sociedad remained five points after the fourth loss of the campaign.
«It was a team victory. They knew how to play and it was hard work, but we deserved it,» said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.
Mikel Oyarzabal was wide from the pass of Goncalo Guedes in the 10th minute when Sociedad looked at it to take advantage of the rare opportunities that came on its way, while Barcelona controlled the game with 87% possession in the first half.
A minute later, Sociedad keeper Alex Remiro made a diving saving to deny Marcus Rashford from the box and Roony Bardghji’s left shot in the 24th minute kept outside.
But Sociedad immediately took the lead in half-hour against the game by former Real Madrid Alvaro Odriozola, who made his first start of the season after fellow defender Jon Aramburu was injured during the warming.
Another BarrenetXea defeated Kounde in the box and crossed to an unmarked Odriozola, who ended with the right top foot from the edge of the six-year box.
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Barcelona went right in the 43rd minute when Rashford’s corner found Kounde in the box and the French defender made no mistake with a header.
A confident Barcelona insisted on the winner in the second half, and Lamine Yamal made an impact less than a minute after he had entered as a replacement.
The 18-year-old, who returned from a groin injury, dribbled past a defender and crossed to Lewandowski, whose header went out of the post in the 58th minute to set up the host 2-1.
Lewandowski could have scored again a minute later, but shot over the bar of Dani Olmo’s Backheel.
Sociedad almost hit back when Aihen Munoz Oyarzabal found with a ball, but his shot was tipped by keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
The visitor went close to an equalizer in the 84th minute when the shot of Takefusa Kubo hit the bar, and a minute later the shot of Lewandowski also came from the woodwork on the other side.
Barcelona, which is in a winning series of five games in all competitions, organizes Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, before he continues his La Liga title defense on Sevilla next Sunday.
«It’s good, but it’s a long way that we are in front of you … Tomorrow we will focus all our attention on PSG,» Flick added.
Published on September 29, 2025
