6:00 PM ET
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Sam Marsden Barcelona Correspondent
Robert Lewandowski Barcelona scored twice and provided an assist on his 34th birthday in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad.
This is Barcelona’s first victory in La Liga of the new season. In the second half, Ansu Fati came off the bench and the coach made two assists and a goal.
Poland striker Lewandowski opened the scoring in the first minute of the game, his first La Liga goal since his move from Bayern Munich. Five minutes later, Alexander Isaac equalised after receiving a pass from David Silva.
Barcelona try to break Deadlock until coach Xavi Hernandez sent in Rafinha and Ansu in the 64th minute. Ousmane Dembele scored in the 66th minute and Lewandowski added the second two minutes later. In the 79th minute, Ansu scored a goal to end the game.
Here are the main Talking points, player ratings, and more from a strong win from Barcelona.
Report : Barcelona beat Real Sociedad | La Liga table | Recent fixtures
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Quick response
1. Lewandowski celebrates 34th in style
Robert Lewandowski, signed from Bayern Munich for 45 million euros in the summer, opened the scoring in just 49 seconds, after Pedri and Alejandro Balder’s After an excellent performance, he turned home and registered his first goal for his new club.
Real Madrid in Vermont Frenkie de Jong replaced suspended Sergio Busquets and conceded the ball in midfield.
Hernandez’s bench equalised in favour of Barca.
Ousmane Dembele continued his stellar pre-season form to restore Barca’s lead in Substitute Ansu Fati’s brilliant back-heel kicked the ball into the bottom corner.
Dembele’s goal kicked off a sensational final 25 minutes from Barca, with Lewandowski in the first half Playing two minutes later, the Polish striker then improvised an excellent pass to Ansu for fourth.
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2. Ansu steals performance in Harvey’s Experiment XI
Vallecano In his first game of the season, Xavi decided to experiment at Arnoeta.
Young Bald left for Jordi Alba with Ousmane Dembele on the other side, while Ferran Torres joined Pedri in an awkward midfield four , Garvey and De Jong started the season together for the first time.
This is a glimpse into the changing times at Barcelona, the first league since December 2020, the club’s captain – Busque Cis, Alba, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto – none of them played. However, that didn’t work, so an hour later Xavi showed how Barca have invested heavily this summer Newfound depth.
Rafinha, who signed for €55m from Leeds United, was introduced, but it was an academy graduate from Ansu who stole the show. The 19-year-old made an immediate impact, scoring goals for Dembele and Lewandowski, then He then scored his first goal of the new season in the 79th minute.
For all the money Barca spend, their most important players, honorable mentions Lewandowski and Dembele, are probably just the two they already have: Ansu and Pedri.
3. ‘La Real’ struggles after a strong start
Imanol Alguacil will wonder how his team lost 4-1.
One hour later, they overtook Barcelona, quickly recovering from a first-minute conceded goal to not only level but have a better chance of taking the lead at half-time.
Only a brilliant save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied David Silva. The home side’s goal was ruled offside after the German goalkeeper made two more superb stops in Mikel Merino’s game.
La Real will Take a positive attitude, though. In Silva, Merino, Takefu Kubo, Martin Zubimendi and Brace Mendes, they have a very efficient midfield that supplies the impressive Isaac, who Sack scored here for the first time since April.
Player Ratings
Barcelona: Ter Stegen 8; Araujo 6, Christensen 7, Eric Garcia 6, Balder 7; De Jong 5, Pedri 7, Garvey 6; Dembele 7, Lewandowski 8, Torres 6
Substitutes: Ansu 8, Raphinha 6, Alba 6
Real Sociedad: Remiro 6; Eustondo 6, Zuberdia 6, Le Normand 6, Munoz 6; Zubimendi 6, Bres Mendes 6, Merino 7, Silva 7, Kubo 6; Isak 7
Substitute:
Cho 6, Turrientes 6, Navarro 6
The best and worst performers
BEST: Ansu Fati
Lewandowski’s goal and ter Stegen’s save ensured Barca win three points for the first time this season, but no Ansu came off the bench Explosive, the Catalans may not find their way in the second half.
Worst: Frankie de Jong
The Dutch midfielder had an unforgettable night with pulled the Royals goals and worked to fill Busquets’ vacancy. His first-half performance, however, was Barca’s disjointed performance, and he improved as the game progressed.
Highlights and important moments
This is a way to celebrate 34th birthday. Feliz cumpleaños to Lewandowski!
And the birthday boy might also consider a present for Ansu.
That’s quite the comparison…
👑🔟😏 𝙀𝙨𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙖, @ANSUFATI … pic.twitter.com/7YIEeap4yy
— La Liga (@LaLiga) August 21, 2022
After the game: Coaches, the players said
“It’s a tough game, it’s always like that when you come. We played with more patience, Like in the second half, we’ll get better. We lacked that in the first half. We talked at half-time about better spacing and that’s what we need to do. We deserved the win.” — Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez
“We basically played with five or six forwards. It’s all about risk and how much you take.” — Xavi on his lineup decision
Key Stats (courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information)
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Lewandowski’s goal at 46 seconds came from Andres I Andres Iniesta’s goal after 43 seconds against Andres Iniesta was the fastest in any Barcelona competition since April 11, 2009 at Recreativo in La Liga.
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Lewandowski did not record his career at Bayern Munich First career multi-goal game until his 11th game of the 2014-15 season.
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Ansu Fati is 11th since 2010-11 A teenager with many assists in La Liga. He was the fourth man to come off the bench.
Next
BARCELONA: Oddly enough, Wednesday A friendly match against familiar faces Guardiola and Manchester City, who welcome Real Valladolid on 28 August.
Sociedad: They travel to Elche on Saturday.
