In what turned out to be a thoroughly disappointing night for Barcelona, the Catalan giants suffered a 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena on Sunday, marking their second defeat of the season in La Liga. This defeat also ended their impressive seven-match winning streak across all competitions, leaving fans and players alike frustrated by the lackluster performance. Barcelona's inability to record a single shot on target during the match was particularly troubling, given their strong attacking display in recent weeks.
The only goal of the match came from Sociedad, who capitalized on a series of defensive lapses from Barcelona. In response, the home fans erupted in celebration and performed the "Poznan" – a popular dance adopted by football fans, where supporters face away from the pitch, link arms, and jump in unison. While the celebration reflected the joy of Sociedad’s fans, one poor Barcelona supporter found himself trapped in the middle of the group, an unfortunate metaphor for how isolated and frustrated the visitors must have felt on the night.
Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, was honest and forthright in his assessment of the team's performance after the match. Without offering any excuses, Flick acknowledged that his side had simply not been up to the task. He praised Real Sociedad for their clinical approach and stated that his team needed to accept the defeat. “Today was not our day,” said Flick in his post-match interview. “I think we have to accept this result because they played decisively. It’s clear, there are no excuses. We didn’t create enough chances.”
Despite the setback, Barcelona maintains their position at the top of the La Liga table, with 33 points, six points ahead of second-place Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. However, the performance against Sociedad highlighted key areas where Barcelona will need to improve if they are to sustain their lead. Flick admitted that although the team had started well with the ball, they quickly lost control of the game as Sociedad took charge. “We started well with the ball, I was happy, but then we started to suffer, and their goal came,” he said. “We also made some bad decisions, and that’s something we have to live with.”
For Barcelona, the real disappointment came in their attacking play. Despite dominating possession in the first half, they failed to create any meaningful opportunities. Their lack of shots on goal was compounded by a disorganized defense that allowed Sociedad to create multiple chances. Flick expressed his frustration, pointing out that his side's defense had been far from its best. "Real Sociedad could have won by a wider margin following a series of bad mistakes by an erratic Barcelona defense," he added. "The responsibility for the defeat is ours. We could and should have played much better."
Although the loss was hard to digest, Flick maintained that the team should not dwell on it for too long. He pointed out that Barcelona had been exceptional in their previous matches this season, and that this defeat should not overshadow the team's achievements. "We haven’t held possession of the ball the way we wanted and suffered," he said. "But the games we have played before have been fantastic and I appreciate what the team has done so far this season."
He also emphasized that his side had fought until the end of the match, even though they were not able to break down Sociedad’s defense. "We tried until the last second, united, and I told the team that," Flick said. "But today we weren’t strong enough to deserve a better result." This spirit of fighting to the end is something Barcelona will look to carry forward into their next matches as they seek to maintain their momentum at the top of the league.
Looking ahead, the defeat will serve as a valuable lesson for Barcelona. It exposed several weaknesses, particularly in the attack, where they failed to convert possession into clear-cut chances. Their defensive fragility, especially in transition, was also evident and will need to be addressed before their next match. While this loss was certainly a setback, Barcelona’s overall performance this season remains strong, and they will look to bounce back quickly as they aim to maintain their lead in the highly competitive La Liga race.
