Football

Barcelona's unbeaten run in La Liga came to an abrupt end on Sunday as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad. The Catalan giants were denied an early lead when Robert Lewandowski's goal was controversially ruled out for offside, sparking a heated debate over the accuracy of the semi-automated offside technology.Despite dominating possession, Barcelona struggled to create clear-cut chances and failed to register a single shot on target. Real Sociedad, on the other hand, made the most of their opportunities, with Sheraldo Becker scoring the only goal of the match in the 33rd minute.The absence of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was keenly felt by Barcelona, who lacked his spark and creativity in the final third. Dani Olmo, who started on the bench, failed to make an impact when he came on in the second half.Barcelona's defeat leaves them six points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who have played one game less. However, the loss raises questions about the team's ability to maintain their impressive form throughout the season.Real Sociedad, meanwhile, celebrated a famous victory that moved them up to eighth in the standings. The Basque side showed great resilience and determination to hold off Barcelona's attacking threats.

Barcelona, the current La Liga leaders, are in scintillating form, having scored 55 goals in 16 matches across all competitions. They visit Real Sociedad on Sunday, brimming with confidence after scoring three or more goals in each of their last seven outings.Despite Real Sociedad's historical resilience against Barcelona in San Sebastian, Hansi Flick's team has been unstoppable since September. Their only league defeat came six weeks ago at Osasuna, but they have since thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 and Bayern Munich 4-1 in Europe."The results speak for themselves, and it's great to see," said Flick, whose team holds a nine-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.Robert Lewandowski, the veteran Polish striker, has been a key factor in Barcelona's resurgence under his former Bayern Munich coach. After struggling last season, the 36-year-old has been unstoppable this season, scoring 19 goals in 16 games.Lewandowski's superb support comes from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who have been tearing apart opponents. Dani Olmo, Barcelona's summer signing, is also expected to start as he continues his recovery from injury.Real Sociedad, currently 11th in La Liga, are improving under Imanol Alguacil. The coach believes his team's results will improve after poor finishing cost them points earlier in the campaign.Real Madrid, in second place, face Osasuna on Saturday, hoping to reduce Barcelona's lead to six points.

Atletico Madrid's hopes of recovering from their humiliating Champions League defeat were dashed by Luka Sucic's stunning strike, which earned Real Sociedad a 1-1 draw in La Liga on Sunday.Diego Simeone's team, still reeling from their 4-0 thrashing by Benfica midweek, took an early lead in San Sebastian through Julian Alvarez. However, their advantage proved short-lived as Sucic's long-range effort in the 84th minute secured a point for the home side.Atletico's draw leaves them third in the standings, level on points with Villarreal but seven behind leaders Barcelona. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, remain in 15th place."It's a bad feeling because we wanted to win the game," said Atletico defender Axel Witsel. "We let in a late goal and it hurts, we had a good game defensively... everyone was working hard. The goal we let in was a great strike but I think we could have avoided it."Former Manchester City striker Alvarez put Atletico ahead within the first minute after Antoine Griezmann backheeled the ball into his path. Griezmann, who recently retired from international duty with France, made his 400th appearance for the club.Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a superb save to keep out Nayef Aguerd's close-range effort and also denied Takefusa Kubo. The visitors looked set to claim three points before Sucic's late intervention.Rodrigo de Paul gave the ball away cheaply in his own half and Sucic hit a first-time shot that spun over Oblak and into the net. Kubo fired narrowly off-target in the final minutes as the hosts tried to snatch all three points.

Real Madrid extended their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 37 matches with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena on Saturday. The Spanish champions moved within a point of league leaders Barcelona, who face Girona on Sunday.Despite missing injured midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid started brightly. Kylian Mbappe forced Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro into a smart save, while Vinicius Junior also threatened. However, it was the hosts who hit the woodwork three times in the first half, with Luka Sucic, Sheraldo Becker, and Sucic again all coming close.Real Madrid took the lead in the 58th minute when Vinicius Junior converted a penalty after Sergio Gomez handled Arda Guler's drive. Mbappe doubled the advantage just minutes later, sending Remiro the wrong way from the spot after Jon Aramburu stood on Vinicius' foot.Real Sociedad continued to press for an equalizer, but Madrid held firm to secure the three points. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and commitment, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti."It was a tough game, probably we didn't deserve to win because Real Sociedad played very well... but we bore it out, we suffered, we were committed in the tough moments of the game and I value that a lot," Ancelotti said.Mbappe now has three goals in five La Liga matches for Madrid, although two have come from the penalty spot. The French superstar has formed a dangerous partnership with Vinicius Junior, who has also scored three goals this season."They are linking well, creating a lot of danger," said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. "In open play they're lacking goals a bit, but with them we have a lot of danger up front and we will score a lot of goals."Real Sociedad have just one win from five games this season, but Imanol Alguacil's team played well against Madrid."We had a great first half, we had a lot of chances, the game was alive," said Real Sociedad's Igor Zubeldia. "In the second half we started well but the penalty was a tough blow... we were comfortable, it changed the whole game for us."

Barcelona's resurgence continued on Monday as they secured a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad, propelling them to second place in La Liga, just a point ahead of Girona. The win dealt a blow to Real Sociedad's Europa League aspirations, leaving them seventh in the standings.Despite having nothing but pride to play for in the final weeks of the season, Barcelona displayed a determined performance, eager to finish above their Catalan rivals. Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old winger, opened the scoring in the 40th minute, showcasing his impressive skills. Raphinha sealed the victory with a late penalty, ensuring Barcelona's second-place finish.Barcelona coach Xavi praised his team's performance, highlighting their control of the game and the importance of the victory. He also acknowledged the need to finish above Girona, a testament to the club's desire to salvage some pride from a disappointing campaign.Real Sociedad, on the other hand, were left frustrated by the result, which hindered their chances of securing European football next season. Midfielder Benat Turrientes expressed his disappointment, lamenting the missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome of the match.Barcelona's victory was marred by Robert Lewandowski's visible frustration after being substituted with 15 minutes remaining. The Polish striker, who is vying for the La Liga top scorer award, was visibly upset by the decision. However, Xavi defended his choice, emphasizing the need for fresh legs and energy to maintain their lead.Barcelona will face Almeria on Thursday and Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in their final two matches of the season, aiming to secure their second-place finish. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, will look to bounce back and secure a Europa League berth in their remaining fixtures.

Real Madrid's relentless pursuit of the La Liga title took a significant step forward with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Friday. The triumph at the Reale Arena extended their lead at the summit to 14 points, leaving their arch-rivals Barcelona with a mountain to climb.Despite resting virtually their entire first-choice team ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, Madrid showcased their depth and determination. Arda Guler, a 19-year-old playmaker, seized the opportunity to shine, scoring the solitary goal that sealed the victory.Guler's strike came in the 29th minute, as he capitalized on a perfectly placed cross from Dani Carvajal. The goal proved to be the difference in a match where Real Sociedad dominated possession and created several chances. However, Madrid's defense, led by Eder Militao, held firm to preserve the clean sheet.Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid's coach, praised his team's commitment despite the rotations. "It was quite clear that everyone thought we were coming here for a stroll, the only ones who didn't think so were the players," he said. "I am proud of the players because they had the desire and will to keep winning."Real Sociedad, who remain sixth in the standings, were left to rue missed opportunities. Takefusa Kubo thought he had equalized before the break, but his goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Benat Turrientes also came close, but his shot sailed narrowly over the crossbar.In the second half, Madrid brought on reinforcements in the form of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde. The substitutions helped stabilize the game and ensure the victory. Antonio Rudiger made a crucial block to deny Mikel Oyarzabal, while Alex Remiro made a fine save to keep out Eduardo Camavinga's late effort.The match was brought forward to Friday from Saturday to accommodate Madrid's Champions League schedule. Despite the short notice, Real Sociedad put up a spirited performance, but ultimately it was Madrid's experience and quality that prevailed.

Kylian Mbappe's brilliance propelled Paris Saint-Germain into the Champions League quarter-finals with a stunning brace in a 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad. The French superstar's goals sealed a 4-1 aggregate triumph for the Ligue 1 giants.Despite recent speculation surrounding his future, Mbappe proved his indispensable value to PSG. His electric pace and clinical finishing were too much for Real Sociedad to handle. The 25-year-old opened the scoring in the 15th minute, showcasing his exceptional skill with a clever touch and a powerful shot into the far corner.Mbappe doubled PSG's lead in the 56th minute, racing past the defense and coolly slotting home. His sixth goal in eight Champions League matches this season effectively ended the contest.Real Sociedad fought valiantly but were unable to overcome Mbappe's brilliance. Substitute Ander Barrenetxea had a goal ruled out for offside, while Gianluigi Donnarumma made a superb save to deny Benat Turrientes.Mikel Merino scored a consolation goal for the hosts in the dying minutes, but it was too little, too late. PSG's victory marked their first appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals since 2021.Mbappe's performance was hailed by both his teammates and opponents. PSG coach Luis Enrique praised his "unstoppable" ability in the final third, while Real Sociedad's Merino acknowledged his devastating impact.However, PSG will have to contend with the absence of Achraf Hakimi in the quarter-final first leg due to a booking. Despite this setback, the French champions will be confident of continuing their Champions League journey with Mbappe leading the charge.

Bayern Munich's resurgence under interim manager Thomas Tuchel continued on Tuesday as they secured a 3-0 victory over Lazio in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie. The win, which sealed a 3-1 aggregate triumph, propelled the German giants into the quarterfinals and reignited their hopes of European glory.Harry Kane, Bayern's talismanic striker, proved to be the difference-maker once again. The England international opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a diving header, canceling out Lazio's first-leg advantage. He then doubled Bayern's lead in the 66th minute, tapping in a rebound after Thomas Mueller's effort had been parried.Mueller had earlier made it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime, heading in a Matthijs de Ligt volley. The German forward's goal proved to be a crucial moment, as it gave Bayern a comfortable cushion going into the second half.Lazio, who were bidding for their first quarter-final appearance in 24 years, struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match. Ciro Immobile's header just before halftime was their best opportunity, but it sailed narrowly wide.Bayern, on the other hand, were relentless in their attack. Jamal Musiala almost added a third goal seconds after Kane's opener, but his sliding shot missed the target. Leroy Sane also came close in the second half, but his shot was palmed into Kane's path for the third goal.The win provides a much-needed boost for Bayern, who had won just one of their last five matches in all competitions prior to Tuesday. It also eases the pressure on Tuchel, who will leave the club at the end of the season.Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain also booked their place in the quarterfinals with a comfortable 2-1 victory away to Real Sociedad. Kylian Mbappe was the star of the show for the French champions, scoring both goals in a match that wrapped up a 4-1 aggregate victory.Mbappe's first goal came in the 15th minute, as he curled a fabulous strike into the far corner. He doubled his tally in the 56th minute, bursting into the box and beating the goalkeeper at his near post.Mikel Merino netted a consolation goal for Real Sociedad in the 89th minute, but it was too little too late to prevent PSG from reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in three years.

Paris Saint-Germain's preparations for their crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Sociedad have been marred by controversy surrounding coach Luis Enrique's handling of star forward Kylian Mbappe.Despite PSG's comfortable 2-0 lead from the first leg, Enrique's decision to reduce Mbappe's playing time has raised eyebrows. The French superstar, who has scored 32 goals in 33 games this season, was benched for the game against Nantes and substituted early in the matches against Rennes and Monaco.Enrique's actions have been interpreted as a punishment for Mbappe's decision to leave PSG at the end of the season. The coach has hinted that he is preparing the team to play without Mbappe, who is expected to join Real Madrid.However, critics argue that Enrique's handling of Mbappe is inappropriate and could jeopardize PSG's chances of advancing in the Champions League. Former PSG defender Alain Roche said, "I don't understand. I get the impression that ever since he told the club he was leaving he has been punished by the coach."Mbappe's absence from the starting lineup has been particularly noticeable in PSG's recent matches. The team has struggled to create chances and has failed to win in their last two games.Enrique's decision to experiment with Mbappe's playing time ahead of such an important European fixture has been questioned. PSG have a history of dramatic collapses in Champions League knockout ties, and another exit this time would be disastrous for both the coach and the club.