La Liga, Round 2: Real Sociedad shocks Real Madrid with a four-goal comeback

The first half at El Madrigal served as a good reminder that defeating Villarreal at home is always a tough challenge. Barca managed to pull it off last season, and despite the fact the Blaugrana looked the better side in the opening 45 minutes, the Yellow Submarine held firm defensively.

Neymar made his first appearance of the season, replacing Munir in the 59th minute. He made an immediate impact connecting with Messi to set-up Ivan Rakitić for a chance that rolled through several legs before being cleared for corner.

Key player: James Rodriguez (Real Madrid)

With Ronaldo out for the match, James Rodriguez will likely get the start in place on the Portuguese winger. The Colombian has looked good so far this season for Madrid as he continues to settle in after his summer transfer. This could be a chance for him to really shine, but the nice thing about playing for Madrid is that he doesn’t have to do everything. Thanks to the multitude of talented players around him, Rodriguez simple needs to play his role and be himself, which could make him even more dangerous.

Key player: Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona)

Villarreal injuries and suspensions