Barcelona staged a thrilling second-half comeback to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday, reclaiming the top spot in Spain's La Liga standings. The victory, sealed by Robert Lewandowski's decisive 59th-minute header, showcased the resilience of Xavi Hernández's squad amid a tightly contested title race.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, fresh from winning the Kopa Trophy at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony, delivered a match-winning cross just nine minutes after entering the game as a halftime substitute. The 16-year-old's precision pass found Lewandowski unmarked in the box, with the Polish striker powering home his seventh league goal of the campaign.
The match began with early pressure from Barcelona, as Marcus Rashford forced a sharp save from Sociedad goalkeeper Álex Remiro in the 10th minute. However, the visitors stunned the Olympic Stadium crowd when Álvaro Odriozola capitalized on defensive confusion to give Sociedad a 31st-minute lead.
Jules Kounde atoned for his earlier error just before halftime, rising highest to meet Rashford's corner and level the score. The French defender's header marked his first goal of the season and set the stage for Barcelona's second-half resurgence.
With the win, Barcelona now sits one point clear of rivals Real Madrid, having secured six victories in their last seven matches. The result leaves Sociedad languishing in 17th place, intensifying pressure on manager Imanol Alguacil.
