01/18/26 05:35:00
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01/18 17:34 CST Barcelona's 11-game winning streak ends with 2-1 loss at Real
Sociedad in Spanish league
Barcelona's 11-game winning streak ends with 2-1 loss at Real Sociedad in
Spanish league
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) --- Disallowed goals, hitting the woodwork five times, and great
saves.
It was just too much for Barcelona to overcome on Sunday as it lost 2-1 to Real
Sociedad in the Spanish league to see its 11-game winning streak come to an end.
Barcelona had three goals disallowed --- as well as a penalty-kick call
reversed by video review --- in the first half alone. It had five attempts hit
the woodwork, including an 84th-minute header by Jules Kound from close range,
and Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro made a series of impressive saves.
"Disappointed, we created a lot of opportunities. The result does not reflect
our game," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. "Sometimes it's like that. At the
end, there are some days you invest a lot of energy and at the end you are
unlucky. I appreciate a lot what I saw."
The loss left the Catalan club one point ahead of second-place Real Madrid,
which beat Levante 2-0 at home on Saturday.
It was the second consecutive win for Sociedad, which moved to eighth place.
"Three amazing points," said Remiro. He made one terrific close-range save off
a header by Robert Lewandowski in the second half.
Mikel Oyarzabal put the hosts ahead with a volley by the far post in the 32nd
minute. Barcelona equalized with a header from Marcus Rashford in the 70th but
a minute later Gonalo Guedes put Sociedad ahead again with a shot from inside
the area.
Barcelona had plenty of chances throughout the match. It thought it had taken
the lead a few minutes into the game when Fermn Lpez scored with a low shot
from outside the area, but the goal was disallowed by video review for a foul
by Dani Olmo on Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo in the buildup.
Barcelona also had a goal by Frenkie de Jong called back for offside in the
21st and another by Lamine Yamal in the 27th.
Yamal was awarded a penalty in first-half stoppage time but the call was
reversed because he was offside.
"We played well, had many scoring opportunities," De Jong said. "We deserved to
win. We need to be able to capitalize on these chances."
Sociedad's Carlos Soler was sent off in the 88th for a hard foul.
Barcelona had won 11 in a row across all competitions in a streak that included
a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi
Arabia last weekend. It hadn't lost since a 3-0 road defeat against Chelsea in
the league phase of the Champions League.
Its last Spanish league loss had been a 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the
first clasico of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in October.
Barcelona forward Raphinha was not included in the squad for Sunday's match.
Joao Cancelo made his debut off the bench in the second half after recently
signing with the Catalan club.
Kubo had to be taken off the field on a stretcher in the second half because of
an injury.
Sorloth winner for Atletico
Alexander Sorloth scored early in the second half to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0
home win over relegation-threatened Alaves.
Sorloth struck in the 48th minute with a firm header from near the penalty spot
after Pablo Barrios crossed from the right flank. The ball hit the post at the
far corner before going in.
It was the 10th start in 19 league games for Sorloth this season. The Norway
forward has six goals, three with headers.
Alaves, winless in five straight league games, came close to equalizing a few
times late in the match at the Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish capital.
Alaves has seven losses in its last nine league games, with its only win, 1-0,
against Real Sociedad in December.
Earlier Sunday, Valencia moved out of the relegation zone by winning 1-0 at
Getafe with an 84th-minute goal by Jos Gay.
The result ended Valencia's six-game winless streak in the league. Getafe is
now winless in six consecutive league games, with five losses.
Celta Vigo routed 10-man Rayo Vallecano 3-0 at home. The visitors played with
10 men from the 66th after Nobel Mendy was sent off for a hard foul after VAR
review.
It was the third win in a row for Celta, which is seventh. Rayo is 13th.
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