Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 5-2, and won 6-2 on aggregate, in what was a nervy affair at times.
Denis Suárez
Denis added to his first ever goal for Barcelona at the weekend with two fine strikes in this match. The first was an excellent finish after a lovely run from Lionel Messi, and a deft touch from Luis Suárez. However, the second was better because he picked up the ball from a Messi pass, then effortlessly dribbled past two players before calmly taking the ball around the goalkeeper.
It was another excellent performance from the young Spaniard. His two goals were the product of well-timed runs into the forward areas which exploited the space opened up the other Suárez’s runs. He continued to make these runs throughout the match, and they significantly increased the danger of Barcelona’s attacks. The runs showed the high level of chemistry he has with the front three because the movement between them all was so fluid. This performance was a remainder of the immense talent that he has, and the role he has in the future of Barça.
Next: FC Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Preview
Arda Turan
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It seems to be a recurring theme this season, but once again Turan deserves a mention. The Turkish international had another impressive cameo from the bench. Replacing Neymar with Turan seems to be a popular move for Luis Enrique in matches due to it reducing the workload of the Brazilian. The substitution has been justified so far due to Turan thriving on the reduced energy levels of the opposition. His awareness and clever positioning has allowed him to score thirteen goals this season including this match. A lovely passing move ended with an Aleix Vidal cross across the box which he slid in to the net at the back post, and with that pretty much ensured that Barcelona won the game. This added squad depth is starting to really benefit Barcelona as the schedule gets busy, and the injuries pile up.
Resolve
The scoreline is convincing, but there were moments in the match when the pressure was ramped up and nerves could have really affected play. However, the team pulled through in those key moments, and asserted control over the match. They held a slender lead going in to the match, but were able to score early on to settle the nerves. Another key moment in the match was the instant response to Real Sociedad’s first goal. There was also the period after Sociedad’s second goal when they threatened to get back into the game. The Catalans stayed resolute in defence, and took the chances that came their way. This took the momentum out of the Basque team, and allowed the Barcelona players to enjoy the game.
The response to the goals was great considering the absence of experienced players Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. It’s a good sign for how prepared the summer signings are for key matches later in the season. Barcelona won another key fixture against difficult opposition, so the signs are positive going in to a crucial part of the season.