Hello everyone and welcome to another MARCA in English live blog, this time covering the LALIGA EA SPORTS clash between Real Sociedad and Barcelona at the Reale Arena.
The hosts are heading into the clash on the back of two victories and one draw under new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. Real Sociedad beat Osasuna on penalties earlier this week to clinch a spot in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
The visitors took a two-goal lead, as an early opener by Jon Moncayola was followed by an own goal from Mikel Oyarzabal. Yet, Real Sociedad bounced back after the break and netted twice through Benat Turrientes and Igor Zubeldia, who sent the game to extra time. Goalkeeper Unai Marrero stood out with two saves in the shoot-out, as the hosts sealed qualification.
As for Barcelona, the Catalan side will look to extend their winning streak to 12 games across all competitions. The Blaugrana have kept six clean sheets in their last seven games, including one in their 2-0 win over Real Racing Club de Santander in the Copa del Rey.
Having won 16 of their 19 league games, Barcelona sit top of the table, while Real Sociedad are currently 13th. The first game this season between the two teams ended in a 2-1 comeback victory for the Blaugrana thanks to goals from Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski back in September.
It remains to be seen if Barcelona will manage to extend their winning streak, or whether Matarazzo will remain undefeated in the Real Sociedad dugout.
Real Sociedad vs Barcelona LIVE – Latest Updates
Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad).
Substitution, Barcelona. Gerard Martín replaces Pau Cubarsí.
Substitution, Barcelona. Roony Bardghji replaces Jules Koundé.
Fermín López (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jules Koundé (Barcelona) hits the woodwork with a header from the centre of the box.
Fermín López (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Aihen Muñoz (Real Sociedad).
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).
Jon Gorrotxategi (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Duje Caleta-Car replaces Jon Aramburu.
Igor Zubeldia (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Igor Zubeldia (Real Sociedad).
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Eric García.
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Álvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad).
Eric García (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Pau Cubarsí.
Attempt blocked. Igor Zubeldia (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Carlos Soler.
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by João Cancelo.
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Jules Koundé.
Attempt missed. Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Álvaro Odriozola with a cross.
Foul by Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad).
Joan García (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Real Sociedad 2, Barcelona 1. Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Goal! Real Sociedad 1, Barcelona 1. Marcus Rashford (Barcelona) header from very close range.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Ander Barrenetxea replaces Takefusa Kubo because of an injury.
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Aihen Muñoz replaces Sergio Gómez.
Delay in match because of an injury Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad).
Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner by Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad). Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross.
Substitution, Barcelona. Marcus Rashford replaces Dani Olmo.
Substitution, Barcelona. João Cancelo replaces Alejandro Balde.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sergio Gómez (Real Sociedad).
Offside, Real Sociedad. Takefusa Kubo is caught offside.
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Álvaro Odriozola replaces Brais Méndez.
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Jon Gorrotxategi replaces Beñat Turrientes.
Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad).
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad).
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Igor Zubeldia.
Attempt missed. Fermín López (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Pedri.
Attempt saved. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad). Assisted by Lamine Yamal.
Jon Aramburu (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jon Aramburu (Real Sociedad).
Attempt missed. Eric García (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dani Olmo with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Álex Remiro.
Attempt saved. Dani Olmo (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad). Assisted by Alejandro Balde.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box. Assisted by Fermín López with a cross.
Offside, Real Sociedad. Mikel Oyarzabal is caught offside.
Second Half begins Real Sociedad 1, Barcelona 0.
First Half ends, Real Sociedad 1, Barcelona 0.
VAR Checking: Barcelona Penalty.
Penalty Barcelona. Lamine Yamal draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Igor Zubeldia (Real Sociedad) after a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt missed. Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad). Assisted by Pedri.
Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Fermín López.
Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Takefusa Kubo.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Gonçalo Guedes.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Beñat Turrientes.
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Jules Koundé.
Foul by Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
Beñat Turrientes (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Álex Remiro.
Beñat Turrientes (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Beñat Turrientes (Real Sociedad).
Attempt saved. Beñat Turrientes (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Jules Koundé.
Foul by Pedri (Barcelona).
Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal! Real Sociedad 1, Barcelona 0. Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box.
Offside, Barcelona. Lamine Yamal is caught offside.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jon Martín (Real Sociedad).
Attempt saved. Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Attempt missed. Dani Olmo (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Lamine Yamal.
Foul by Eric García (Barcelona).
Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Offside, Barcelona. Frenkie de Jong is caught offside.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jon Aramburu (Real Sociedad).
Foul by Dani Olmo (Barcelona).
Jon Aramburu (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Dani Olmo (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
VAR Checking: Barcelona Goal (Fermín López).
Goal! Real Sociedad 0, Barcelona 1. Fermín López (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box.
Attempt saved. Dani Olmo (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner by Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad). Assisted by Alejandro Balde.
Attempt blocked. Fermín López (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lamine Yamal.
Offside, Real Sociedad. Mikel Oyarzabal is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Pedri (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box.
Offside, Real Sociedad. Mikel Oyarzabal is caught offside.
First Half begins.
The players take to the pitch. Real Sociedad form a guard of honor for Barcelona to celebrate their Super Cup victory.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Real Sociedad XI: Remiro, Aramburu, Jon Martín, Zubeldia, Sergio Gómez, Turrientes, Soler, Brais Méndez, Kubo, Guedes, Oyarzabal.
Barcelona XI: Joan García, Koundé, Cubarsí, Eric García, Balde, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Fermín, Ferran Torres
Real Sociedad vs Barcelona predicted lineups
Real Sociedad possible starting XI (4-4-2): Remiro; Aramburu, Martin, Caleta-Car, Gomez; Kubo, Turrientes, Soler, Guedes; Mendez, Oyarzabal
Barcelona possible starting XI (4-3-3): Joan; Kounde, Cubarsi, Eric, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Rashford; Ferran
When is Real Sociedad vs Barcelona?
Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET. For fans in the United Kingdom, the match begins at 20:00 GMT.
In the United States, it will get underway at 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT.
Where to watch Real Sociedad vs Barcelona?
In the United States, the match will be shown live on ESPN+. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 2, with streaming available via Premier Player.
Read the full article here
VAR Decision: Card upgraded Carlos Soler (Real Sociedad).