The curse of the Anoeta continued as Barcelona ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline for the second La Liga game running. Xabi Prieto delivered the perfect cross for Mikel Oyarzabal to nod in, at the fifth minute of the game.
Barcelona chased the game desperately but couldn’t make much of all their possession and ran out eventual losers on the night.
Let’s have a look at the player ratings for both sides.
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Real Sociedad
Geronimo Rulli - 8/10
Rulli made a string of magnificent saves to keep his team ahead. In a very assured display, he thwarted the entire Barcelona forward line keeping a deserved clean sheet along the way.
Mikel Gonzalez – 7/10
Mikel Gonzalez was relentless in his pursuit of the ball as he allowed the opposition little time or space to find a teammate. Overall, a very good display from the man on the night at the heart of the Sociedad defence.
Diego Reyes – 7/10
Along with his partner Mikel Gonzalez, he completely locked down a manic Barcelona attack. He kept his nerve all game and rarely put a foot wrong with his keeper saving him when he did.
Alberto de La Bella – 7/10
De La Bella came in with a solid display at the back and made the odd contribution on the overlap as well. He left Javier Mascherano in knots during one memorable attack.
Aritz Elustondo – 7/10
Aritz Elustondo committed himself to the defense as well as the others in the Real Sociedad backline. He put in a fine defensive display on the night.
Asier Illaramendi – 7/10
Asier Illaramendi was all over the pitch trying to outwork every other player on the night. He was booked for a challenge but was crucial to Real Sociedad’s defensive efforts with his all-action display.
Esteban Granero – 6/10
Esteban Granero had a good game and marshaled the area in front of the defence fairly well. He never seemed out of place or out of his depth against a depleted but still particularly dangerous Barcelona midfield.
Xabi Prieto – 7/10
After setting up the first goal with a sublime ball in, Xabi Prieto produced one his more disciplined tactical displays to help the team keep the lead. Like so many of his teammates, he barely put a foot wrong.
David Zurutuza – 7/10
A tactically efficient display from David Zurutuza on the night saw him effectively cover areas out wide and even set up the few offensive plays that Real Sociedad could manage on the night.
Mikel Oyarzabal – 7/10
Mikel Oyarzabal will remember this night. It isn’t every day you score the winner against Barcelona. Nodded in a spectacular ball from Xabi Prieto to open and end the scoring in the fifth minute of the game. He was disciplined tactically there onwards.
Carlos Vela– 6/10
Carlos Vela had little to take from the night having little to no service. He did do his bit though and was always trying to look to receive the ball, something which didn’t happen too often.
Substitutes:
Zaldua – 5/10
Zaldua came on for Elustondo late in the game to offer fresh legs to the backline.
Ruben Pardo – NA
Hector – NA
Barcelona
Claudio Bravo – 6/10
Claudio Bravo surprisingly did not have much to do on the night but was beaten for the goal. It isn’t easy to blame him for the goal, however.
Dani Alves – 5/10
Dani Alves offered little on the night and was even off colour offensively which is odd for the Brazilian. He was to blame partially for losing Oyarzabal in the lead up to the goal.
Gerard Pique – 6/10
Gerard Pique was transfixed as the goal went in at the fifth minute but was crucial in the game that followed the goal as he formed an important part of Barcelona’s attempt to equalize. Defensively, he had little to do as Carlos Vela could hardly trouble him much.
Javier Mascherano – 5/10
Javier Mascherano hardly had much to do but the little he did, he did rather ordinarily. Was exposed by De La Bella on one occasion apart from the goal but looked decent otherwise.
Sergi Roberto – 5/10
Sergi Roberto let Xabi Prieto get into space to cross the ball for the game. He played most of the remaining game in midfield before making way for Ivan Rakitic.
Rafinha – 5/10
Neat in possession but evidently lacking match fitness for such a game, Rafinha was out of his depth and was replaced by Andres Iniesta at half-time.
Sergio Busquets – 6/10
Sergio Busquets had a quiet and ordinary game and that has been quite normal for a while now. On the night, he hardly had much to do as the opposition decided to soak pressure instead of creating any of their own.
Arda Turan – 5/10
Arda Turan had a shot saved by the opposition keeper. Otherwise, he had an ordinary game where he hardly seemed to do much. Turan was hauled off at the 60-minute mark.
Lionel Messi – 6/10
Lionel Messi had and created several chances but found himself foiled by a very well organized Real Sociedad defense. He had a decent game but hardly one of any consequence.
Neymar – 5/10
Neymar hardly impacted the game with his running leading to nothing and even his final pass missing. A sub-par performance by his standards on the night. He did create a sublime chance for Arda Turan which was duly made a hash of.
Munir El Haddadi – 5/10
Munir El Haddadi has had his range of abysmal games at Barcelona. Filling in for Luis Suarez, he hardly did his career at the Camp Nou a favour. Missed an incredible chance early in the game and after that was nowhere to be found.
Substitutes:
Andres Iniesta – 6/10
His introduction at half time had due impact but for all his efforts and class, he couldn’t open the game up.
Jordi Alba – 5/10
Added pace and endeavor to the side but Jordi Alba like his teammates couldn’t find an opening.
Ivan Rakitic – 4/10
Ivan Rakitic hardly had any impact after coming on.
