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.
Those appear to be the final plays of the first half. 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...
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.
That said, he's just picked out a crossed ball outside the area with a high foot and got a shot away with his second touch. No doubting he's top notch! Barça have managed to create a couple of decent chances in recent minutes, the best falling to Gavi who was just outnumbered by blue and white stripes but this game remains really balanced. Sociedad started last season brilliantly and have shown tonight that they still have enough quality to do the same again this year. Keeping it going till the end is always the biggest challenge. 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. 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.
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. Both teams looking to get control but neither managing it quite yet. Isak has something for the crowd, a stunning break and goal.
The players are heading out of the tunnel and we are almost ready to go again. 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. Two top strikers showing us how nets can be attacked.
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