Lamine Yamal and Raphinha shone as Barcelona secured an important 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad, propelling them into second place, simply forward of Catalan rivals Girona.
The defeat dealt a blow to Real Sociedad’s hopes of qualifying for the Europa League subsequent season, as they now sit in seventh place behind Real Betis, who claimed victory on Sunday.
Barcelona, final season’s champions, at the moment are taking part in for pleasure within the remaining weeks of a disappointing marketing campaign. Finishing above the spectacular underdogs Girona is important for Barcelona to salvage some pleasure from this season.
Real Madrid secured the title with ease after Barcelona’s current 4-2 defeat to Girona.
Yamal opened the scoring for Barcelona simply earlier than halftime, and Raphinha sealed the victory with a late penalty.
“La Real are a great team; it’s an important victory for us. We had a good game in general,” Barca coach Xavi informed Movistar.
Xavi benched Uruguayan heart again Ronald Araujo, who has been off form this season and whose crimson card towards Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) contributed closely to their Champions League collapse.
With Madrid reclaiming La Liga from the Catalans, Barcelona finish the season trophyless and licking their wounds.
Xavi, who will keep in cost subsequent season after ditching his exit plan, began defender Inigo Martinez rather than Araujo and Pedri Gonzalez in midfield.
The Canary Islander remains to be constructing type and health after a string of harm issues forward of Euro 2024 and helped Barca management the sport.
Striker Robert Lewandowski was unusually energetic in his staff’s urgent, maybe motivated by the race to complete as La Liga’s high scorer.
At the opposite finish, Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied Sheraldo Becker after he burst past Pau Cubarsi, however the Suriname worldwide had pushed the younger defender in any case.
Shortly afterward, Becker obtained behind Barcelona’s excessive line once more and this time fired residence however was appropriately flagged offside.
Real Sociedad stopper Alex Remiro saved properly from Yamal after the 16-year-old winger mixed with Ilkay Gündoğan to interrupt into the world.
Raphinha struck the publish towards the top of the primary half with a long-range effort, and Gündoğan turned the rebound over after it fell to him at a clumsy angle.
It was a warning Real Sociedad didn’t heed, with Yamal sending Barca forward quickly after.
Lewandowski fed Gündoğan properly with a low through-ball, and the German teed up the winger to steer residence his fifth league objective of the season.
We depart right here harm
Barcelona began the second half strongly, with Raphinha twice coming shut with high-quality long-range efforts.
Real Sociedad virtually leveled when Brais Mendez gained the ball again excessive up and fired inches huge of Ter Stegen’s far publish.
Remiro denied Barca substitute Ferran Torres, and Yamal’s effort was deflected huge after a high-quality solo dribble, with the hosts struggling to kill off the sport.
Eventually, they managed it when Alvaro Odriozola’s handball led to a penalty – with VAR calling the referee to test the incident lengthy after it occurred – and Raphinha dispatched it with aplomb.
“They took a few minutes to go to the VAR (but) if they gave it then it was a penalty,” stated Real Sociedad midfielder Benat Turrientes.
“We depart right here harm; we got here to win, we have rather a lot on the road to attempt to get into Europe, and I feel we had possibilities, particularly within the first half, to go in entrance.
“If you don’t score, these teams end up scoring against you.”
Xavi took off Lewandowski with quarter-hour remaining, and the Polish ahead, who has 17 targets to his identify this season in La Liga, trailing Girona’s Artem Dovbyk by three, didn’t appear thrilled by the choice.
“We needed more fuel, more legs, we put in great effort, and Robert did very good work,” stated Xavi.
“I understand Lewandowski’s annoyance; I didn’t like being taken off either.”
Barcelona faces Almeria on Thursday and Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as they attempt to keep in second place.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
