BARCA FAIL TO BREAK SOCIEDAD
MADRID: Barcelona’s winless streak at Real Sociedad stretched to eight games as the Spanish champions were outplayed in a 1-1 draw that leaves them six points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
A sumptuous finish from Lionel Messi spared Barca’s blushes after Willian Jose had headed Sociedad into a deserved lead just after halftime. Barca were fortunate to escape without a fifth consecutive league defeat in San Sebastian as Carlos Vela hit the woodwork twice and Juanmi’s header was wrongly ruled out for offside.
“It is almost a miracle that we took a point. Real Sociedad were infinitely better than us with and without the ball. They won all the battles.” Barca boss Luis Enrique said. A point is enough to move Barca up to second, but they now desperately need to beat Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Barcelona still haven’t won in San Sebastian since 2007, but were grateful for the point as Sociedad failed to cash in on their superiority.
“Playing like this it will be very difficult to win the league,” said Barca defender Gerard Pique. Xabi Prieto headed a guilt-edged chance wide, whilst Vela also fired off target when well-placed inside the area before the break.
The visitors’ first effort on target came on 50 minutes when Geronimo Rulli turned behind Neymar’s free-kick. However, Sociedad went in front three minutes later when Pique, who played on in the second-half with a severely strapped ankle, could only slash Jose’s effort into his own net after Marc-andre ter Stegen had blocked Vela’s initial effort.
Neymar started up front for Barca despite suffering a minor car accident in his Ferrari on Sunday morning. And the Brazilian finally kickstarted a lame Barca display six minutes later as he burst down the left and crossed for Messi to apply a characteristically clinical finish for his 19th goal in 16 games this season.
Sociedad were cruelly denied 14 minutes from time when a wonderful hit by Vela came back off the underside of the bar and substitute Juanmi’s finish from the rebound was wrongly ruled out for offside. Asier Illarramendi then cleared off the line from Denis Suarez at the other end before Vela struck a fact that was emphasised by the Spanish coach.
“We had a great match in Goa. We could have scored more goals but I think the players now don’t worry to take on anyone. It doesn’t matter which teams is in front of us. It’s all the same. We try to dominate the game, defend well and score as many goals as possible,” said Molina.
Atletico de Kolkata are sweating on the fitness of star midfielder Sameehg Doutie, besides Stephen Pearson and I, Chayyanika Nigam D/o Shri Swarajya Nigam R/o House No. 12, Ground Floor (Back), Kanishka Residency, Ashoka Enclaveiii, Sector 35, Faridabad Haryana-121003 have changed my name from Chayanika Nigam to Chayyanika Nigam for all future purpose and both are same perosn. the woodwork again with a low effort that clipped the post in a frantic finale.
Earlier, Atletico Madrid got back to winning ways and moved back into the top four as goals from Diego Godin, Kevin Gameiro and Yannick Carrasco ensured a comfortable 3-0 win at Osasuna. Atletico had suffered back-to-back La Liga defeats for the first time in four years at the hands of Sociedad and Real Madrid in recent weeks.
However, they never looked in danger after Jan Oblak had saved Roberto Torres’s penalty with the scores still level at 0-0. Godin nodded home Koke’s corner nine minutes before half-time and almost straight from kick-off Angel Correa released Gameiro to double Atletico’s lead.
Substitute Carrasco rounded off the scoring with his eighth goal of the season in stoppage time.
“It was a very important game for us for the way in which we ended up playing,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
Atletico leapfrog Villarreal, who earlier lost 2-0 at home to Alaves, into fourth and move back to within nine points of Real Madrid. Lalrindika Ralte. While Doutie has fever and didn’t train with the team, Lalrindika and Pearson have not yet recovered from injuries. Kerala Blasters have done well to reach the fourth spot for now after collecting just a point from their first three matches. A win for Kerala Blasters will take them closer to the semi-final spot.
“We feel we are in a decent position (to qualify) and Kolkata will feel the same. There is an awful lot to play for on Tuesday (Tuesday) night. We are looking