Real Sociedad stunned LaLiga leaders Barcelona with a 2-1 win at a raucous Reale Arena (Anoeta), snapping an 11-match winning streak and igniting the title race. In a game that had everything — goals, VAR drama, the woodwork rattling, a late red card, and nine minutes of added time — the hosts held their nerve to claim three vital points and a statement victory.

Mikel Oyarzabal struck first on 32 minutes. Marcus Rashford came off the bench to nod Barcelona level on 70. And within seconds, Gonçalo Guedes pounced to restore La Real’s lead on 71. From there, Alejandro Remiro and his back line lived on the edge, especially after Carlos Soler’s 88th-minute red card, but they got over the line.

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad: a night of fine margins

Barcelona will feel this slipped away in the tiny gaps that decide seasons. Hansi Flick’s side saw three goals chalked off, a penalty award overturned for offside, and struck the frame of the goal three times after the interval. They created enough to win two games, but the final touch and the final decision deserted them at the key moments.

La Real were brave and bold. They didn’t dominate the ball, but they chose their moments. Oyarzabal’s opener came from that sense of timing — a smart run, a calm finish, and a stadium roaring back to life. It put Barça on the back foot and set the tone for a second half that was chaos by design.

“Remiro was everywhere — how did Barça not score three?”

Oyarzabal, Rashford, Guedes: the goals that told the story

The scoring sequence felt like a sprint. Oyarzabal, the captain and heartbeat of this Real Sociedad side, found the net on 32 minutes to reward a fast, fearless start. After the break, Barcelona poured forward. They finally got the equalizer on 70 when Lamine Yamal whipped in a perfect cross and Marcus Rashford, on as a substitute, rose to head home his third LaLiga goal.

Yet before Barcelona could settle, the home side struck back instantly. On 71, Guedes reacted first after a save from Joan García, slamming in what proved to be the winner. That one-two punch flipped the game on its head and left Barça chasing shadows until the final whistle.

Remiro and the woodwork deny Barcelona

If the scoreboard told one story, the posts and the bar told another. Barcelona rattled the woodwork three times in the second half. Robert Lewandowski’s header clanged off the crossbar. Dani Olmo also forced top stops, with Remiro’s handling and positioning a constant barrier.

This was the kind of game goalkeepers remember. Remiro read crosses well, smothered rebounds, and stayed big when angles tightened. Add in VAR calls that went La Real’s way — including three disallowed Barcelona goals and a penalty decision reversed for offside — and you had the full cocktail of frustration for the visitors.

“Three chalked off and a post — title races turn on nights like this.”

Red card drama and nine minutes of added time

As pressure rose, tempers followed. Carlos Soler saw red on 88 minutes for a rash challenge on Pedri, leaving Real Sociedad to defend deep with ten men. The fourth official showed nine minutes of added time, turning the end into a siege.

Barcelona loaded the box, sent crosses from both flanks, and had efforts blocked in crowds. Remiro punched, defenders threw themselves at shots, and La Real cleared second balls with a mix of desperation and belief. When the final whistle blew, the stadium exhaled as one.

VAR calls in focus

Barcelona’s disallowed goals will be a talking point. Among the key rulings: a Fermín López finish was ruled out for a foul on Takefusa Kubo in the buildup, and a Barça penalty shout was overturned for offside after review. In a match of narrow margins, those moments carried heavy weight.

Flick will point to the volume of chances and the thin line between joy and pain. But he will also know that top sides must live with, and rise above, these swings.

“Rashford changed the mood — did Barça find him too late?”

What it means for the LaLiga title race

For the table, the fallout is clear. Barcelona remain top with 49 points from 20 matches (16W-1D-3L, +32 goal difference), but the cushion is down to a single point over Real Madrid, who sit on 48. It is their third league defeat of the season, and it reopens the door for their rivals.

Real Sociedad’s reward is both emotional and practical. Imanol Alguacil’s team climbed to eighth on 24 points (6-6-8, -2 goal difference). After a mixed first half of the campaign, a win like this can reset confidence and sharpen belief, especially given the manner of the finish.

Big performers and key moments

• Mikel Oyarzabal: Led by example with the opener and tireless pressing.
• Gonçalo Guedes: Right place, right time for the winner — ruthless and decisive.
• Marcus Rashford: Impact sub, smart movement, and a fine header for 1-1.
• Alejandro Remiro: Composed, brave, and the difference as Barcelona swarmed late.
• VAR and the woodwork: Three disallowed goals, a penalty overturned, and three strikes against the frame defined Barça’s frustration.

What’s next

The calendar will not wait. Barcelona head straight into Europe, hosting Slavia Prague in the Champions League on January 21, before returning to domestic duty against Real Oviedo. Flick will demand a quick reset and a sharper edge in front of goal.

Real Sociedad host Celta Vigo next. The challenge is consistency: bottle the energy from Anoeta and turn one famous win into a trend. With the table tightening, every point can shift the story.

Bottom line

On a wild night in San Sebastián, Real Sociedad married heart with detail and got the breaks when they needed them. Barcelona created plenty but paid for waste and those cruel inches that separate celebration from regret. The leaders stay top, but the gap is thin, and the title race just caught fire again.