For the fourth day of Liga, FC Barcelona was travelling to San Sebastian to face Real Sociedad. Maltreated by Asier Garitano’s men, Barça won 2-1 thanks to a deviated shot from Ousmane Dembélé.
FC Barcelona was back in business at the end of the afternoon in San Sebastian. Barça crossed swords with Real Sociedad. On this occasion, Ernesto Valverde lined up a 4-3-3 and started Rafinha and Nelson Semedo. Sergio Busquets and Coutinho started on the bench. For his part, Asier Garitano opted for a 4-4-2 diamond with the duo Oyarzabal and Jimenez in point. After a round of observations that lasted ten minutes, Real created the sensation. On a free-kick fired by Zurutuza, Hector Moreno saw his head drop deflected by Sergi Roberto, the ball returned to Elustondo whose volley deceived Ter Stegen (1-0, 12′).
A score opening that rewarded the involvement of Garitano’s players. The latter hindered the Blaugranas, unable to get close to Rulli’s goals in the first half hour. It was necessary to wait for the 35th minute to glimpse the first opportunity of Barça. On a Dembele corner, the head of the dive was passing by. Valverde’s men were better at finishing that first act. At the reception of a centre in Ousmane Dembélé, Gerard, who was six meters high, came up against Rulli (42′). FC Barcelona joined the changing rooms with a goal late on the scoreboard.
Dembele relieves Barça
On the way back from the dressing rooms, Ernesto Valverde played the offensive card by getting Philippe Coutinho to take Semedo’s place (46′). Like the first act, Barça could not find the key to get close to the goals held by Rulli in the first quarter of an hour. At the 57th minute, Jordi Alba overflowed and centered for Ousmane Dembélé whose crossed head did not catch the frame. On the counter-attack, Pardo moved up the field and shifted to the right, Oyarzabal, whose shot flew over Ter Stegen’s goals (59′). The Real Sociedad proceeded in contres, Theo Hernandez (60′) and Juanmi (62′) stumbled on Ter Stegen. Missed opportunities for the Catalans.
On a Dembélé corner, the nose-down head was badly negotiated by Rulli, Suarez pushed the leather to the bottom of the nets to equalise (1-1, 63′). The Blaugranas increased pressure on Rulli’s goals. The latter flew away to divert a shot wrapped in Coutinho (65′). On the corner hit by Messi, the goalkeeper of the Real shot himself completely, which benefited Dembélé, whose deflected shot by Pardo allowed Barça to take the lead (1-2, 66′). A goal that knocked out Asier Garitano’s men. In the money-time, Real missed the equaliser on a nice opening from Merino for Juanmi, whose head went right up against Catalan goals (86′). Thanks to this narrow success, FC Barcelona still occupied the seat of leader of the Liga.