Barcelona claimed a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, bouncing back after Real Madrid’s humiliating 5-2 derby defeat against Atletico gave Hansi Flick’s side the chance to move top of the table.
La Real struck first when former Madrid defender Alvaro Odriozola finished off Ander Barrenetxea’s cross on 31 minutes, punishing the champions despite their early dominance.
Barcelona responded before the break, Marcus Rashford’s pinpoint corner setting up Jules Kounde to head home the equaliser.
Flick made key changes at half-time, bringing on Dani Olmo and later 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who returned from a groin injury that had sidelined him for four games.
The teenager made an instant impact, surging into the box and crossing for Robert Lewandowski to nod in off the post just a minute after his introduction.
Szczesny made a good save from Oyarzabal as La Real gave Barcelona a couple of scares, while Remiro denied Rashford and Olmo with two more good saves.
Both teams rattled the woodwork in a frantic finale, Takefusa Kubo smashing the bar after dispossessing Kounde, before Lewandowski did the same at the other end when he might have killed the game.
Barcelona held firm to seal three crucial points ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which will also be staged at the Olympic Stadium following the city council’s refusal to reopen Camp Nou.
