Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona: Miracle at Anoeta as Catalans take a point

Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona: Miracle at Anoeta as Catalans take a point

Barcelona have not won there since 2007 and even though this draw was one of their better results there on paper, it was as miserable as the worst defeat

One minute of magic. 89 of dirge. Above all this was a sad game for Barcelona, one in which they were totally lost.

A brilliant run from Neymar and Lionel Messi’s clinical finish salvaged a point from Anoeta, but Real Sociedad played them off the pitch.

Barcelona have not won there since 2007 and even though this draw was one of their better results there on paper, it was as miserable as the worst defeat.

They were hopeless in the first half, with Real Sociedad racking up shots and corners while the Catalans floundered in San Sebastian. 

They didn’t get any goals though, partly due to Marc-Andre ter Stegen being alert, some slack finishing and a bit of luck.

And it was mainly luck that kept Barcelona afloat until the end of the game, with Juanmi unfairly denied a goal by the linesman’s wrongly-raised flag, after Carlos Vela’s firecracker bounced down off the crossbar and onto the goal-line.

Real Sociedad opened the scoring the second half when Vela surged away from the flapping Javier Mascherano and saw his shot blocked by Ter Stegen, before Willian Jose headed home the rebound.

Gerard Pique could have blocked it on the line but was uncharacteristically clumsy and let it past him, putting Barcelona in a bad position.

Out of nowhere they grabbed the equaliser six minutes later, with Neymar’s bolt from the blue and ball to Messi allowing the Argentine to net.

Denis Suarez did well after coming on as a substitute and helped Barcelona get a foothold in the game, but for the most part the hosts stayed on top and should have grabbed their winner, but for the bad decision from the officials to punish Juanmi.

Barcelona came close to earning one of the great undeserved victories of all time when Denis rounded the goalkeeper and fired towards goal, but Asier Illarramendi was on hand to clear.

The result leaves Barcelona six points behind Real Madrid going into the Clasico next weekend. Lose at home and it could be a death sentence for Barcelona’s title hopes.