It looks as though he'll start tonight in front of his home crowd but will know that a win here would be just the second time they've opened the season with two victories in 13 league campaigns. What a way to do it... Lewandowski hoping for more celebrationsEvery day we're a little bit older and once a year we get to blow out some candles to acknowledge the ticking of time. Today is the chance for new Barça striker Lewandowski to do just that and he'll be hoping to get a match ball to take home too. Fancy his shirt? Here's your chance...
For the visitors, clearly there is an incredible amount of attacking talent, young and old, to whet the creative appetite, and it's notable, given all the off-field chat, that Frenkie de Jong takes his place in that midfield. Starting XI: BarcelonaTer Stegen; Araújo, Éric, Christenssen, Balde; De Jong, Gavi, Pedri; Ferran, Dembele, Lewandowski Starting XI: Real SociedadRemiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Aihen Muñoz; Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, David Silva; Kubo, Brais Méndez, Isak Is Kubo the La Real deal? Many remain excited by the progress of 21-year-old Takefusa Kubo, who became the second youngest player to score on his LaLiga debut for the club since the turn of the century.
Both teams looking to get control but neither managing it quite yet. Isak has something for the crowd, a stunning break and goal. The Swede is released down the right channel and as he sprints into the area it initially appears that he's dinked it over Ter Stegen at an incredible angle but his effort is aided by a deflection of the sliding defender. Still, it's all square and the noise levels are cranked up.
The game has started at a lightening pace and that goal from the Pole came immediately after superb build up and decent chance from the hosts. Let's see what else they have to liven up a still enthusiastic crowd. Lewandowski opens scoring Barcelona kick-off, La Real attack, Barça break, Lewandowski scores. I'll elaborate in a moment OK, the anthem has been sung - hairs standing up - the players and managers have done their politeness, and now we are ready to get the show on the road. Isak is a homerThis is proving to be a good place for recent goals for Alexander Isak who has scored three of his last four league goals at home. It's also where he scored his only career goal against Barcelona.
He feeds Dembélé and Barça create a couple of half chances before being forced to recycle it back to the French forward who fires in a very tempting cross for Lewy. Defenders win. Isak appears, unsurprisingly, to be the man targeted every time La Real get possession in the middle of the park. That space in behind the Barça defenders could be a happy hunting ground for the speedy Swede. Decent strike from Ferran Torres but it's blocked well before it can cause too much damage.
The hosts are trying to get themselves another goal before time runs out - a win is now beyond them - but even a goal is looking so much less likely than before. Barça have quickly turned a balanced game into one they are very much managing out. What an introduction the young Spaniard has been from Xavi. Barça fans must be licking their lips at his return following that horrible injury. A cool finish to the side of Remiro after latching onto a neat Lewy back flick.
Real Sociedad vs Barcelona summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga SantanderUpdate: October 8th, 2022 05:19 EDTReal Sociedad 1-4 Barcelona: how it happenedBarça pick up solid winThe scoreline of 1-4 could be seen as flattering to Barça given the impressive performance put in by their hosts on Sunday night, but the signs were there throughout. What seemed to turn those signs into goals was the introduction of Ansu Fati. What a talent! As I mentioned earlier in the coverage, there are still question marks around some of the defensive aspects of the team, but that creativity and attacking threat that they now carry will cause problems for any team, especially as they get more pitchtime together.
Eric Garcia and Araujo are in the side tonight and have been far from dominant, while Dest doesn't appear to be popular with the coach. Time will tell if a solid framework is found. The first two minutes are like a game of hot potato, neither set of midfielders managing to hold on to the ball for more than the briefest of periods. Peep! Real Sociedad, shooting from left to right as I look on, get the second half underway. The players are heading out of the tunnel and we are almost ready to go again.
We'll be having an extra two minutes here in Anoeta Ter Stegen denies SilvaGood period of Barça possession, without causing too many issues to the home defence, comes to an end with a sharp interception. That allows a controlled counter to develop which ends with a fabulous save from Ter Stegen to deny David Silva. The former Valencia and Man City star had pulled away from his marker inside the box, was found with a cutback from the right, and placed it perfectly inside the near post... until a German hand was stuck out. I should point out, for those that have not been paying attention, that the early Lewandowski goal quickly put an end to any thoughts of a new Barça record being set.
* If Xavi's new-look side fail to bother Remiro's net then it will be the fourth in a row. They have never gone that long before without scoring in the league (the current run of three hadn't happened since 2003). *For the record, I don't think it will Kubo habla españolIn case you were wondering - as many do about foreign players coming to Spain - young Kubo has a very decent grasp of the local language. Here he is giving a message to the Txuri-Urdin fans. La Real vs Barça: starting player thoughtsSo, what is your take on those starting line-ups? (Feel free to actually answer that in the comments section) I have to say that I'm rather excited about watching the link up between David Silva, Kubo and Isak from the off.
La Real goal ruled outA bit of a lull in any significant play is ended with a free-kick to the hosts, deep on the right. The dead ball curves inwards and goes straight in at the far post but the flag goes up on a number of players in offside positions, at least a couple making attempts to touch the ball in front of Ter Stegen. Pretty clear decision to rule that out. We often focus on the attacking and creative aspects of this new Xavi team, and understandably so, but questions remain over the defence he is building.
Although La Real are also enjoying a decent amount of possession, they are much more threatening on the counter and have those aforementioned weapons at their disposal. "Oooooh... Ooooohh! " goes the crowd. After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing, another streaming counter has the home crowd raising the volume. Merino down the left has a chance and stings the hands of Ter Stegen. The rebound falls to Kubo who steps inside a defender then fires just wide. Birthday goalAs I said in the build-up, Lewy would love a match ball to take home on his special day. Scoring the first inside a minute gives him a decent chance. More fabulous play from both sets of players, at least in an attacking sense. First it's the hosts, bombing forward with plenty of purpose and almost fashioning a shot but just not getting the space to do so, given the numbers in the Barça area. From that, Pedri batters away down the left wing, at rather a surprising speed, I have to admit.
Can we expect a similar start to the first 45? Here's hoping... Half-time mutteringsWhat a blistering start we had to the game! A Lewandowski first for his new club could have put a dampener on things inside the first minute but within five we had a leveller, and one I should apologise for. My real-time version of events suggested the dink over Ter Stegen was significantly helped with a deflection. I've since watched the replay a couple of times and can give all the praise to Isak. What a finish, at pace, and following a great run.
Just saying! No Busquets, no goalsThe two points in the title are not directly related but both are on the mind tonight. That goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano also saw Sergio Busquets pick up a red card and so is out for this clash. Can you believe that is just his second red in 452 league appearances? The other thing about the lack of goals last week is that it threatens a worrying record being logged.
Celta de Vigo vs Real Sociedad Prediction, Preview, Odds Mecz pomiędzy Celta Vigo a Real Sociedad odbędzie się 10/16/2022o godzinie beIN Sports Connect Malaysia, Blue To Go Video Everywhere, CANAL+
They'd never gone four league games without scoring... This is like two middlewieghts going at each other, both jabbing, sometimes frantically, other times more measured, and trying to find that crucial gap or lapse in concentration. Isak goes over in the area and the nearby stands scream for a penalty. It never was, and most probably know that. The pattern of the game (how on earth did we get half and hour in? ) is settling to Barça having a slower, more Xavi-like attacking style, with some exceptions thrown in where appropriate.
Watch RC Celta de Vigo vs. Real Sociedad Online Real Sociedad 1-4 Barcelona: how it happened. Barça pick up solid win Celta Vigo 1-4 Real Madrid summary: Modric goal, score,