San Sebastián, January 18, 2026 — Real Sociedad handed Barcelona a 2-1 loss on Sunday night at the Reale Arena, ending the league leaders’ strong run and shaking up the title race. Hansi Flick’s side came in riding an 11-match winning streak in all competitions, but they left San Sebastián with nothing, now only one point clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
It was a wild night with almost everything, ruled-out goals, VAR drama, big saves, a late red card, and a frantic spell after the break. Real Sociedad made their home advantage count again, beating Barcelona for a second straight season in San Sebastián and moving up to eighth in the table.
First half: offside flags, VAR, and Oyarzabal strikes first
Barcelona started with plenty of the ball and tried to pin Sociedad back early. The problem was timing. The visitors had three goals wiped out for offside inside the first 30 minutes, with Fermín López, Frenkie de Jong, and Lamine Yamal all seeing their finishes ruled out.
Barça also thought they had a penalty, but VAR stepped in. Lamine Yamal went down after contact from Igor Zubeldia. The referee pointed to the spot, then reversed the call after the review.
Real Sociedad took the lead in the 32nd minute, and it came from one clean moment. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal met a sharp cross from Gonçalo Guedes and volleyed past Joan Garcia to make it 1-0. The Real Arena erupted, and Barcelona suddenly had a real problem.
Barcelona pushed to level it before halftime, but Álex Remiro held firm and kept Sociedad in front.
Second half: Rashford levels it, Guedes hits back right away
The second half stayed tense and messy in the best way. Dani Olmo came close twice, hitting the post on both attempts, and Remiro kept piling up saves as Barcelona turned the screw. Jules Koundé also went close, but his header crashed off the crossbar.
Flick looked to his bench for a spark and brought on Marcus Rashford. The change paid off quickly. In the 70th minute, Rashford rose to meet a precise ball from Lamine Yamal and powered a header into the net to make it 1-1.
Barcelona barely had time to settle. Within a minute, Gonçalo Guedes put Real Sociedad back in front. Sociedad broke forward on a fast counter, and Guedes finished clinically for 2-1 in the 71st minute.
Late pressure, Soler sent off, and Sociedad hold on
Barcelona threw everything forward late on, and the final minutes got even hotter. In the 88th minute, Carlos Soler saw a straight red card for a reckless late challenge on Pedri, leaving Real Sociedad down to 10 men.
There were nine minutes of stoppage time and constant pressure, but Barcelona couldn’t find a way through. Remiro stayed sharp to the end, and Sociedad’s back line defended their box with purpose to close out a famous win.
Match highlights
- Three Barcelona goals dwere isallowed for offside (Fermín López, Frenkie de Jong, Lamine Yamal).
- Barcelona’s penalty decision was overturned after a VAR review.
- Dani Olmo hits the post twice, and Barcelona also strike the woodwork on a Koundé header.
- Álex Remiro shines with key saves, including a late stop to deny Robert Lewandowski (sub).
- Two goals in quick succession, Rashford (70′) then Guedes (71′).
- Carlos Soler was shown a straight red card (88′).
Real Sociedad didn’t have as much of the ball, but they took their moments and protected their lead when it mattered. Barcelona controlled long spells, yet the missed chances and tight calls added up.
Real Sociedad team statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Possession | 38% |
| Shots | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 4 |
| Corners | 3 |
| Fouls | 14 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 |
| Red Cards | 1 |
| Passes Completed | 312 |
Barcelona team statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Possession | 62% |
| Shots | 22 |
| Shots on Target | 8 |
| Corners | 10 |
| Fouls | 11 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
| Passes Completed | 568 |
The loss is Barcelona’s third in the league this season, but they still sit top with 49 points from 20 matches. Real Sociedad takes a big confidence boost as they chase a European place.
With Real Madrid now right behind them, Barcelona’s lead looks far less comfortable. La Liga’s title fight just got a lot tighter after a night packed with controversy, quality, and big moments in San Sebastián.
