Spain's Ronald Araujo shined with a diving header in the second minute of stoppage time to help Barca win 1-0 at Real Sociedad in round 12 of La Liga.
Barca's best chances came in stoppage time at Anoeta yesterday. In the first minute of stoppage time, Pedri created a favorable pass for Gavi to finish with a one-touch shot when he was unmarked in the penalty area, but he could not beat goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
The difference came just a minute later, when Ilkay Gundogan flicked the ball into the box for Araujo to head past the Sociedad goalkeeper. The Uruguayan centre-back collapsed, clutching his head as he turned to see the linesman raise his flag for offside. But VAR intervened, drawing a line and confirming that Araujo had scored a legitimate goal.
The ball went into the net after Ronald Araujo's flying header helped Barca defeat host Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium in round 12 of La Liga on November 4. Photo: Reuters
In the 91st minute and 58 seconds, Araujo scored the latest winner for Barca in La Liga, since Robert Lewandowski scored in the 92nd minute and 55 seconds against Valencia in October 2022. This was also the 24-year-old centre-back's first goal in nine games in all competitions this season.
Similar to the El Clasico match where he lost 1-2 to Real a week ago, Xavi continued to use the 3-5-2 formation when visiting Sociedad with the central defender trio of Inigo Martinez, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo. The two wingers were Alejandro Balde, Joao Cancelo, and the attack was a combination of the duo Joao Felix, Robert Lewandowski.
Barca struggled in their new system and repeatedly allowed Sociedad to create dangerous chances in the first half. Just 25 seconds later, Ander Barrenetxea entered the penalty area and comfortably shot with his right foot towards the near corner, but was blocked by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
In the 2nd minute, Kounde passed the ball back and created an assist for Oyarzabal to face. The striker wearing the number 10 shirt shot a one-touch cross-angle shot that was pushed out of bounds by Ter Stegen. In the following corner kick, Mikel Merino headed the cross-angle shot past the post. In the 16th minute, from a cross from the left wing, Kubo Takefusa shot a one-touch shot from a tight angle that was blocked by Ter Stegen with his foot.
Kounde (No. 23) in a high ball fight with Oyarzabal at Anoeta Stadium on November 4. Photo: AFP
In the second half, Sociedad continued to dominate with a controversial situation in the 66th minute. Kounde kicked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, but referee Javier Alberola did not blow the whistle and VAR did not intervene. A few minutes later, it was Barrenetxea's turn to volley powerfully from outside the box, but still could not beat Ter Stegen.
Barca only exploded in the last 15 minutes, with shots from Raphinha and Gavi before making the difference thanks to Araujo's goal. With a 1-0 victory, Barca reduced the gap with Real to one point, but played one more match.
On November 7, Xavi and his team will continue to visit Shakhtar Donetsk in the fourth round of Group H of the Champions League. If they win, Barca will secure a ticket to the knockout round two matches early.
Line-up :
Sociedad : Remiro; Munoz, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Traore (Elustondo 63); Merino, Zubimendi, Mendez; Barrenetxea (Mohamed-Ali Cho 79), Oyarzabal (Fernandez 84), Kubo.
Barca : Ter Stegen; Martínez, Kounde, Araujo; Balde, Gundogan, Gavi, Cancelo (Raphinha 69); Lopez (Torres 57); Felix (Yamal 69), Lewandowski (Pedri 57).
Hong Duy
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