Real Sociedad beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Reale Arena on January 18, 2026, in a game that will be remembered for its drama, fine margins and heated reaction to several referee decisions. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the first half, Marcus Rashford equalized for Barcelona after coming off the bench, and Gonçalo Guedes fired Real Sociedad back in front within a minute, a lead they defended despite a late red card and nine minutes of added time.
The match, in brief
The fixture was a classic tension-filled encounter, with Barcelona dominating possession, creating chances, but repeatedly denied by the combination of an outstanding opposing goalkeeper and tight VAR decisions. Key facts from the night:
- Final score, Real Sociedad 2, Barcelona 1
- Goals: Mikel Oyarzabal 32', Marcus Rashford 70', Gonçalo Guedes 71'
- Possession broadly favoured Barcelona, who had roughly three quarters of the ball
- Several Barcelona goals were ruled out after VAR checks, and an on-field penalty was overturned at the interval
- Carlos Soler received a straight red late on, leaving Real Sociedad down to ten as they held on
What happened on the pitch
First half: cluster of drama, Sociedad strike
Barcelona started brightly and the first half was punctuated by disallowed goals for both sides, VAR reviews, and growing tension. After a flurry of overturned efforts, Real Sociedad took the lead through Oyarzabal, who met a cross and produced a precise side-foot volley into the near corner, a finish that ultimately decided the first half.
Second half: chances, impact substitutes, instant reply
Barcelona piled on pressure after the break, hitting the woodwork multiple times and forcing high-quality saves. Their persistence paid when Marcus Rashford, introduced from the bench, rose to head Lamine Yamal's cross into the net. Seconds later, however, Real Sociedad countered immediately, and Gonçalo Guedes drilled a low effort into the ground and past the goalkeeper to restore the hosts' lead.
Closing stages: tension and discipline
The closing minutes saw Barcelona press furiously, one header from Jules Koundé cannoned off the crossbar, and Remiro in the Sociedad goal producing two or three vital saves. Real Sociedad's Carlos Soler was sent off in the 88th minute following a rash challenge, but the visitors could not find a way through in nine minutes of stoppage time.
“I think we deserve to win today, we had many chances but we have to score them,” said Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong after the match, voicing frustration over the referee's demeanour and timekeeping.
Numbers that define the match
Statistic | Real Sociedad | Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
Final score | 2 | 1 |
Possession | ~27% | ~73% |
Notable disallowed goals | 1 (Sociedad), multiple (Barcelona) | multiple |
Shots hitting woodwork | — | 4-5 attempts |
Added time | — | 9 minutes |
These figures tell a simple story, possession and territory favoured the visitors, but finishing and decisive moments favoured the home side.
Multiple viewpoints, same facts
Barcelona's case
Barcelona's players and staff left Anoeta professing frustration, but not panic. Their argument was twofold, they had enough of the ball, and they constructed high-quality chances, but a sequence of narrow VAR decisions went against them and luck deserted their efforts on the woodwork. Their manager described the performance as encouraging, while the captain publicly questioned the referee's behaviour and time management.
Real Sociedad's perspective
For Real Sociedad, the result represented resolve and timely execution. The team defended with heart, and goalkeeper Álex Remiro produced a string of saves that tilted the tie in his team's favour. The squad also showed resilience in the face of late disciplinary trouble, preserving a result that boosted morale and league position.
Refereeing and VAR
The match will be dissected for the officiating calls, with several key interventions coming from VAR. Those decisions shaped the scoreboard and the narrative, and they have prompted debate across Spanish and international outlets about consistency and the human element of the game.
Tactical takeaways
- Barcelona dominated possession, and used width effectively, particularly through Lamine Yamal, who created several openings.
- Real Sociedad struck on the counter, making efficient use of crosses and rebounds to convert the two chances that ultimately mattered most.
- Substitutions played a direct role, with Rashford's header briefly swinging momentum.
Formation snapshot (simplified)
```text
Real Sociedad (flexible 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 variations)
Key: Oyarzabal wide, Guedes inside, Remiro crucial in goal
Barcelona (possession-based 4-3-3)
Key: Yamal and wide runners supplying crosses, midfielders probing gaps
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What this means for LaLiga
The immediate effect is clear, Barcelona's long winning run came to an end, and the lead at the top of the table was trimmed, tightening the title race. For Real Sociedad, the victory lifts confidence and league standing, it also validates the team's ability to grind out results against elite opposition.
Looking ahead
Both sides have fixtures coming up that will test their response. Barcelona will look to regroup, review marginal decisions, and convert dominance into consistent results. Real Sociedad will try to build on the momentum, while managing squad discipline and the physical demands of a congested calendar.
Final word
Football is a game of moments, and on January 18, 2026 at the Reale Arena, the decisive moments fell to Real Sociedad. Barcelona will point to the small margins and move on, Real Sociedad will celebrate an evening when efficiency and resilience outweighed possession and pressure. The match will be remembered as much for what happened off the ball and in the VAR room, as for the three finishes that decided the contest.