Real Sociedad's weakened lineup never really had a chance today as Barcelona jumped on them early and never looked back as the Blaugrana cruised to a 4-1 win at the Camp Nou. Neymar led the way with a goal and an assist in the opening eight minutes.
Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad: Final score 4-1, Neymar leads the Blaugrana over La Real
A goal and an assist from Neymar in the first eight minutes of the match helped Barcelona role to an easy victory over La Real.
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The woodwork denied Real Sociedad an absolutely dream start when Haris Seferovic’s shot from outside the Barca box was denied by the crossbar in the second minute of the match.
Two minutes later things turned into a nightmare for La Real.
Alexis Sanchez's bouncing cross from the right edge of the area was bundled by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and ended up right in the path of Neymar. The Brazilian striker couldn't help but push the ball across the line as it basically bounced right into his body and his momentum carried it forward into the empty net.
In the 8th minute Barcelona doubled their lead when Neymar sent a floating cross in from the left wing that Alexis couldn't quite get his head on, which actually worked out well. Lionel Messi had snuck in at the far post, completely unmarked, and easily headed the ball past Bravo to make it 2-0.
La Real were forced to make a substitution in the 20th minute when Xabi Prieto picked up a knock and was unable to continue. Imanol Agirretxe came on but the bleeding continued.
Lionel Messi ended up with the ball on his foot near the post and was denied by Claudio Bravo in the 23rd minute with an excellent save. Unfortunately for Bravo, the ball went right back to Messi who lifted a shot that hit off the underside of the crossbar and bounced on the goal-line before being cleared away by a defender. The clearance attempt didn't really help though as Sergio Busquets jumped on the ball at the top of the La Real area and rocketed a low shot past Bravo to make it 3-0.
As you might expect the intensity level from Barcelona dropped in the second half and Real Sociedad did their best to get back in the match.
La Real pulled a goal back in the 64th minute when Gerard Piqué misjudged the flight of a popped up ball in the Barcelona area. Agirretxe was able to bring it down and fire a low cross to a wide open Alberto de la Bella near the far post of an easy tap-in to make it 3-1.
Despite some close calls La Real couldn’t find a second goal and Barca slammed the door shut in the 77th minute. Messi executed one his patented dancing runs into the area before laying the ball off to Marc Batra who put his shot past Bravo to extend the lead back out to 4-1.
Barcelona: Valdés, Alves, Piqué, Mascherano (Bartra 35'), Adriano, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Alexis, Messi (Sergi Roberto 81'), Neymar (Pedro 74').
Goals: Neymar (5’), Messi (8’), Busquets (23’), Barta (77’)
Real Sociedad: Bravo, Estrada (Ansotegui 45’), Cadamuro, Iñigo Martínez, De la Bella, Bergara, Ros (Pardo 77’), Prieto (Agirretxe 20’), Sangalli, Griezmann, Seferovic.
Goals: De La Bella (64’)
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