BARCELONA’S WINLESS STREAK at Real Sociedad stretched to eight games as the Spanish champions were outplayed in a 1-1 draw tonight 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 half-time.
And 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 14 minutes from time was wrongly ruled out for offside.
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.
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.
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.
Xabi Prieto headed a gilt-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 Gerard 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 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 the woodwork again with a low effort that clipped the post in a frantic finale.
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.
“Oblak was decisive with the penalty save and after Godin’s goal we felt more comfortable,” added Simeone.
“In the second half we were a lot more organised and had more of a collective effort which allowed us to kill off the game.”
Granada remain winless and rooted to the bottom after a 3-1 defeat at Celta Vigo.
It’s a sign of the times we live in .
That person with the sign should be arrested for assault
@thomas walsh: Assault?
@Thomas O’ Donnell: they hit the rider with a sign causing injuries. That’s assault
@thomas walsh: bit dramatic. From the footage I saw, woman holding sign (stagnant and made of cardboard) and looking the opposite direction, into which the rider cycled.
@Kevin Norris: she was at a bike race and caused a crash…because of her being a spanner…fair play to tour of france..people should be accounable for their actions….
@Kevin Norris: you left out the bit where she was on the road and the only path for the rider was straight ahead.
@Kevin Norris: she was completely reckless and only thinking of herself. People were injured because of her selfishness. She should pay the price
@Kevin Bury: i was commenting on whether I would describe it as assault or not.
@Dave O Keeffe: again – assault?
@thomas walsh: again – assault?
@Kevin Bury: don’t know much about French law but what could charge her with?
Assault Battery Negligence or what?
@Kevin Bury: don’t know much about French law but what could you charge her with?
Assault Battery Negligence or what?
@Kevin Norris: yes assault here in irelamd anyway
a person shall be guilty of the offence of assault who, without lawful excuse, intentionally or recklessly—
(a) directly or indirectly applies force to or causes an impact on the body of another, or
Reckless would cover it
@Kevin Norris: yes did I stutter? Assault. Where people not injured? Did she cause these injuries? That my friend is assault
@thomas walsh: sorry but the video is quite clear. She was standing on the road and the cyclist crashed into her? Cyclist should have avoided her
@seanieP: sure that’s so ambiguous it could mean that the woman involved could sue the cyclist, standing on a public road, if they want to sue then the roads should be closed to the public.
@guineon: ah come on now. There was a race she was well aware of happening and shouldn’t be in the road. It’s her recklessness.
Would you apply the same logic if someone popped out in front of usain bolt with a sign on the track mid pelt and he ran into them. Bolts fault I guess….. he should have just hurdled her.
@Mark Sheehan: what’s ambiguous? The definition of assault?
Was the the cause of impact intentional or reckless by the cyclist ? I never made comment on whether someone should be sued. I chimed in over a debate on assault.
@Mark Sheehan: also do all public roads need to be physically closed off to pedestrians.
Regardless of a race or not should people be standing in them wether or not they are ‘public’? The m50 is a public road sure go stand on that with a sign. Might try and sue the motorist if survive.
@thomas walsh: typical social media two babies having a fight lol
@guineon: how, the only path he could take was straight ahead as seen by the fact that when he went a few inches to the left he collided with other cyclists. Other cyclists that were meant to be there i might add.
Sue her for the millions she has…..some chance
Whatever the sign said it should be tattooed on her forehead
@Anthony Doyle: it’s says “Go Grandma and Grandpa”