After seven wins in a row, Barcelona fell to a 1-0 loss against Real Sociedad.
La Real studied the offside trap employed by Hansi Flick’s team and took full advantage on a day in which Barca were imprecise in defence and attack. They were poor in passing out from the back, lacked fluidity and were unbalanced in the final third.
But the game at the Reale Arena also featured a controversial offside against Robert Lewandowski, whose 13th minute effort was ruled out after some images appeared to show La Liga’s semi-automatic system mistaking defender Nayef Aguerd’s foot for his.
Without Lamine Yamal (concussion) and Dani Olmo (stomach problems, although he came on at half-time) in the starting XI, Barca seemed to lack fresh ideas. A goal by Sheraldo Becker in the 33rd minute was enough to put an end to Flick’s paradise and hand his team only their third defeat of the season in all competitions.
Are Barcelona too reliant on Yamal?
When the cameras showed Yamal in the stands in the first few minutes, the Barcelona fans who had travelled to San Sebastian began to applaud and chant. But this was an unusual situation for their 17-year-old star player, who wasn’t even on the bench.
That followed a pre-match statement in which the club announced that Yamal was on medical leave due to discomfort after receiving a “severe concussion” in Barca’s 5-2 Champions League win against Red Star Belgrade in midweek.
The winger travelled with the rest of the team but didn’t recover in time for the game — and his absence was felt.
Yamal travelled with the squad but didn’t play (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The two matches he hasn’t played this season (against Osasuna and Real Sociedad) have been the only two losses suffered by Barca in La Liga and their worst two performances this term. Coincidence? Probably not.
Yamal is a fundamental player to this side. Flick’s team lacked depth without him, something right-back Jules Kounde had to provide in Yamal’s absence.
Barca finished the game without any shots on target for the first time since 2014. Raphinha and Lewandowski weren’t at their best, with the questionable offside against the Pole summing up a miserable evening for the Catalans.
0- Barcelona have failed to make a shot on target in a @LaLigaEN match for the second time since at least the 2003/04 season, following a September 2014 game against Málaga at La Rosaleda under Luis Enrique.
Blocked. pic.twitter.com/jUpxM3zKYX
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 10, 2024
“It was a goal, it was a wrong decision,” Flick told his post-match press conference. “That was not an offside, but it wasn’t his fault. We have to accept it. It was not our day.”
Lewandowksi’s offside (Both images from Movistar Plus)
Was De Jong’s substitution because of an injury concern or a tactical change?
De Jong received a blow in the 25th minute and the Dutchman didn’t look the same afterwards. He was replaced at half-time by Olmo — although it was unclear whether this was because of physical problems or tactics.
De Jong is only just back from a long-term injury and could be seen limping slightly as he came out of the dressing room at half-time. But Olmo also showed once again why Barca spent €60million on his signing this summer.
The Euro 2024-winning attacking midfielder had been suffering from stomach problems, hence why he didn’t start. But when he did come on, he proved vital between the lines. That also allowed Pedri to play further back, where he is most useful to the team in generating attacks.
GO DEEPER
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But the Olmo effect soon faded and he couldn’t add to his five goals in all competitions. Real Sociedad’s staunch defending meant Barca looked uncomfortable, with several of the home side’s players appearing whenever a Barca player got the ball.
De Jong watched all this from the bench with a serious expression. The 27-year-old midfielder continues to look cautious, protecting his ankle in some one-on-ones and not playing at his full potential. That raises the question of whether he is ready to be a starter in a team in which the rest of midfield have been in great form, apart from this game.
Warrior Cubarsi plays with a swollen face and 10 stitches
Cubarsi was one of Barca’s better players, but he was far from guaranteed to play. The 17-year-old centre-back was left with a bloody face and 10 stitches after an accidental boot from Red Star’s Uros Spajic in Wednesday night’s game.
It seemed obvious Cubarsi would be rested here, particularly after Spain coach Luis de la Fuente didn’t call him up to the national team for that reason. But he felt good in training and insisted he wanted to play, so Flick started him.
Cubarsi’s mask (Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Wearing a longer than usual mask to reach the wounds at his jaw, Cubarsi played without fear. He contested every ball and the mask’s shape meant he didn’t have any visibility problems.
He was perhaps caught out in the build-up to Becker’s goal, but in the closing stages he pushed forward to try and score a header.
Some Barca fans had already compared him to club icon Carles Puyol, and those parallels looked even more accurate after seeing him play like this in the rain. He and Inigo Martinez weren’t unbeatable as in previous matches, but he was one of the few who emerged with some credit on this night to forget.
What’s next for Barcelona?
Celta Vigo (away), Saturday, November 23 at 9pm CET (8pm BST, 3pm ET)
(Top image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
