Yamal Returns, Lewandowski Delivers: Barca Edge La Real
Barcelona’s youngsters and veterans combined to deliver a nervy but vital 2-1 win over Real Sociedad at the Olympic Stadium. The night saw the return of teenage wonder Lamine Yamal, who needed only a minute on the pitch to set up the decisive goal for Robert Lewandowski.
Early Shock for Barca
The hosts started brightly, with Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji both forcing Alex Remiro into early saves. But while Barca dominated the ball, they found themselves behind on 31 minutes.
A sharp counter sliced through their defence and Alvaro Odriozola, once of Real Madrid, pounced at the back post to give La Real a surprise lead. The Olympic crowd fell silent as Barcelona once again looked vulnerable on the break.
Kounde Levels the Score
Hansi Flick’s side responded with more urgency. Rashford, showing growing confidence since his loan arrival, curled in a dangerous corner. Jules Kounde rose highest at the near post and smashed in the equaliser just before half-time, lifting the energy in the stands.
Yamal Changes Everything
The turning point arrived after the break. Flick sent on Dani Olmo and, more importantly, Yamal. The 18-year-old, recently voted the world’s second-best player, wasted no time. Bursting into the box, he whipped a perfect cross for Lewandowski, who headed home off the post. Barely a minute on the pitch, Yamal had transformed the game.
End-to-End Chaos
The final half-hour was pure chaos. Szczesny, replacing the injured Joan Garcia, produced a fine stop to deny Oyarzabal. At the other end, Remiro kept out both Rashford and Olmo with stunning saves.
The crossbar rattled twice in quick succession: first from Takefusa Kubo, then from Lewandowski, who smashed Ferran Torres’ pass against the woodwork. Barca fans held their breath as Sociedad pressed late on, but the champions survived.
A Win with Warnings
Kounde summed it up: “We played well for 70 minutes, but the last 25 I didn’t like. We suffered too much.”
Still, Barcelona’s mix of youthful flair and veteran finishing carried them through. With PSG visiting in midweek, Flick will hope Yamal’s return can spark another big night at the Olympic Stadium.
