Barcelona bounced back to the top of La Liga with an impressive 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Sunday. The match saw Barcelona dominate their opponents, particularly after a key moment early in the game that tilted the balance in their favor.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 17th minute when Aritz Elustondo of Real Sociedad was shown a red card for a last-man foul on Dani Olmo, leaving his side with just 10 players for the remainder of the match. Barcelona quickly seized the opportunity, capitalizing on the numerical advantage to dictate the flow of the game.
It didn't take long for Barcelona to break the deadlock. In the 25th minute, Gerard Martin, a young talent from the Barcelona ranks, volleyed home his first professional goal after a perfectly placed assist from Dani Olmo. The goal gave Barcelona the lead, and the home crowd erupted in celebration.
Just minutes after, another Barcelona youngster, Marc Casado, added his name to the scoresheet. Casado scored his first goal for the club, doubling Barcelona's lead before the halftime whistle, leaving Real Sociedad with little hope of mounting a comeback.
As the second half began, Barcelona's dominance continued. In the 55th minute, Ronald Araujo made it 3-0 with a powerful header, further reinforcing Barcelona's superiority. Araujo’s goal not only sealed the result but showcased the team's offensive threat from all areas of the pitch.
The final blow came shortly after when Araujo, now playing as a creator, had a shot deflected off the post and into the net by none other than Robert Lewandowski. The goal was officially credited to Lewandowski, marking his contribution to the 4-0 rout and putting the game well beyond Real Sociedad’s reach.
This dominant win allowed Barcelona to leapfrog Atletico Madrid in the La Liga standings, reclaiming the top spot in the league. Atletico Madrid had won their match on Saturday, but Barcelona’s commanding victory on Sunday ensured they finished the weekend in pole position.