BARCELONA, Spain (BN24) — Lamine Yamal marked his return from injury with a game-changing performance, setting up Robert Lewandowski’s winning goal as Barcelona edged Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday to move to the top of the La Liga table.
Yamal, sidelined for the past four matches with a groin injury, came off the bench in the second half and made an immediate impact, delivering a pinpoint assist just over a minute after stepping onto the pitch. The 18-year-old’s burst of energy and creativity proved the difference in a game that saw Barcelona struggle to break down a well-organized Sociedad defense.
The result lifts Hansi Flick’s side above Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen-led campaign in the league table, after Madrid’s stunning 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday opened the door for Barcelona to claim top spot.
At the Olympic Stadium, where Barcelona have been playing their home fixtures while awaiting clearance to return to Camp Nou, the hosts found themselves behind despite dominating early possession. Real Sociedad struck first in the 31st minute through Alvaro Odriozola, who ghosted into the box to finish off a sharp counterattack led by Ander Barrenetxea. The goal stunned the home crowd and exposed Barcelona’s vulnerability in transition.
Hansi Flick’s lineup featured several changes, with 17-year-old Dro Fernandez making his senior debut in midfield, Roony Bardghji starting wide on the right, and veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny stepping in for the injured Joan Garcia.
Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, was lively from the outset. The England international saw an early chance saved by Alex Remiro. It later created an opening for Lewandowski with a perfectly weighted through ball, only for the striker to drag his shot wide from a tight angle.
Barcelona eventually found its equalizer late in the first half through Jules Kounde. Rashford whipped in a corner, his second assist in as many games, and the French defender rose to head home at the near post, beating Remiro to level the match at 1-1.
Yamal’s long-awaited return came just before the hour mark, and he wasted no time in making an impact. Surging into the box, the teenager delivered a sharp cross that Lewandowski met with a powerful header off the post to give Barcelona the lead.
Remiro did his best to keep Sociedad in the game, producing excellent saves to deny both Rashford and Dani Olmo. At the same time, Szczesny was called into action at the other end to parry a low shot from Mikel Oyarzabal.
The closing stages of the match were chaotic, with both sides rattling the crossbar in quick succession. Takefusa Kubo struck the woodwork after dispossessing Kounde in midfield, and moments later Ferran Torres set up Lewandowski, who thundered his effort against the bar in what could have been Barcelona’s third.
Despite the nervy finish, Barcelona held firm to take all three points, a crucial win ahead of their midweek Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, also to be played at the Olympic Stadium.
Yamal’s return will come as a major boost to Flick, with the youngster proving once again that he is capable of altering the course of a match in an instant. As Barcelona now sit one point clear at the summit, their title ambitions appear to be gaining momentum, powered in part by one of Europe’s most exciting teenage talents.
