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May 14, 2024
While the La Liga title went to their rivals Real Madrid, Barcelona is determined to finish strong. Xavi Hernandez’s side earned a hard-fought win over Real Sociedad at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, moving back into second place in the league. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring just before halftime, striking calmly after Ilkay Gundogan set him up, following Raphinha’s near miss that hit the post.
Raphinha, a constant threat, was instrumental in the victory. His. His free kick hit Alvaro Odriozola’s arm, earning a penalty, earning a penalty. With regular penalty taker Robert Lewandowski unavailable, Raphinha confidently converted from the spot. The win puts Barcelona a point ahead of Girona with three games left, while Sociedad remains in seventh place.
Throughout the season, Robert Lewandowski has often appeared isolated up front, struggling to form a cohesive partnership with Barcelona’s other forwards. This could result in him finishing with fewer than 20 league goals for the first time in nearly a decade. However, his performance in the first half against Real Sociedad hinted at a potential shift; he dropped deeper off the front line, like Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, and linked up effectively with teammates.
His perfect through-ball to Ilkay Gundogan set up the opening goal for Lamine Yamal, showcasing this new approach. With speculation around adjusting his contract—set to increase in his third year at the club—Lewandowski’s future remains uncertain despite having two years left. If he continues in this playmaking role, it could benefit younger players like Fermin Lopez and Gavi, potentially prompting Xavi to advocate for Lewandowski’s continued presence in the squad.
At just 17, Lamine Yamal still shows his youth with occasional mistakes, including moments where he held onto the ball too long, which cost Barcelona chances. However, his undeniable talent makes him one of the most exciting young players globally. He recorded the most successful dribbles on the pitch and nearly scored a spectacular goal reminiscent of Lionel Messi, breaking through defenders and linking up with Ilkay Gundogan before a last-ditch challenge from Jon Pacheco stopped him. His composed finish for the opening goal should boost his confidence, paving the way for an increased goal tally beyond his current five in the league.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen 6; Kounde 6, Inigo Martinez 6, Cubarsi 6, Cancelo 6; Gundogan 7, Christensen 6, Pedri 6; Lamine Yamal 8, Lewandowski 7, Raphinha 7. Subs: Sergi Roberto 6, Fermin 7, Ferran Torres 7, Romeu.
Real Sociedad: Remiro 7; Traore 6, Aritz 6, Le Normand 7, Pacheco 6; Aramburu 6, Turrientes 6, Mikel Merino 6; Oyarzabal 6, Brais Mendez 6; Becker 6. Subs: Tiernay 6, Take 7, Barrenetxea 6, Zakharyan 6, Odriozola 6.
27’ALMOSTT A GREAT GOAL FROM LAMINE! He skillfully dribbled past two defenders and exchanged passes with Gundogan, preparing to shoot when Pacheco lunged in to snatch the ball away.
38′ RAPHINHA HITS TH38’RAPHINIA curling shot veered away from Remiro. Still, it struck the inside of the post, rebounding too quickly for Gundogan to control as it went wide.
40′ GOAL! BARCELONA (LAMINE) 1-040’GOAL!CIEDAD! Lewandowski dropped deep to play a perfect through ball to Gundogan, who set up Lamine to calmly finish into the corner.
65′ ANOTHER STUNNING EFFORT FROM RAPHINHA! His shot was expertly65’pped just under the crossbar by Remiro.
67′ MENDEZ JUST MISSES! He turned Paredes and unleashed a left-footed shot67’MENDEZy missing the far post.
77′ FERRAN NEARLY SCORES WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH! Once the ball was under control on the box’s edge, Remiro saved his shot aimed 77′ at the goalkeeper’s left corner.
90+2′ PENALTY! Following a VAR review, the referee awarded the goalkeepers a handball. Still, it was from a previous Raphinh90+2’e kick that the players hadn’t appealed for.
90+3′ GOAL! BARCELONA (Raphinha) 2-0 REAL SOCIEDAD! With Lewandowski off the pitch, Raphinha’sonfidently converted the penalty from 12 yards.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Latest Football News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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