Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo Snatches Last-Minute Victory Against Real Sociedad
Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo celebrated his opening goal, which came in stoppage time, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, on Saturday, November 4, 2023. This crucial goal secured a 1-0 win for Barcelona, allowing them to keep pace with the leaders in LaLiga despite being outplayed by their opponents.
Real Sociedad’s Missed Opportunities and Barca’s Best Chance
Although Real Sociedad had several chances in the first half, they were repeatedly denied by the impressive saves of Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen. On the other hand, Barcelona’s best opportunity came from Fermin Lopez after a foul on Joao Felix just before the break.
An Effort Disallowed and a Winning Goal
Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo had an effort disallowed for being offside, and Sociedad’s goalkeeper, Alex Remiro, made a brilliant save to deny Gavi. However, in the 92nd minute, Araujo managed to score the winning goal, securing the victory for Barcelona.
Barcelona’s Position in LaLiga
With this win, Barcelona now sits in third place in LaLiga with 27 points from 12 games. They are currently four points behind the leaders, Girona, who won 4-2 against Osasuna on the same day. Real Sociedad, despite their strong performance, is currently in sixth place with 19 points.
Barca Manager Xavi Hernandez’s Displeasure
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez expressed his dissatisfaction with his team’s performance, despite the last-minute victory. He criticized the lack of intensity shown by the team from the beginning of the match. Hernandez stated, “It is simply unacceptable that the team failed to put in the required intensity from the first second. And the negative aspects turned viral in the second half.” However, he acknowledged the team’s improvement in the final minutes, saying, “It wasn’t until the last five minutes that we finally started to show some hunger and began to look comfortable. Ultimately, the way we won was spectacular and that will be a huge boost for our confidence.”
Upcoming Matches
Barcelona is set to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday in Hamburg. On the other hand, Real Sociedad will be hosting Benfica on Wednesday.
Overall, the nail-biting victory by Barcelona showcased their resilience and ability to seize opportunities when it matters most. Despite facing adversity, their last-minute goal ended the match with a triumphant outcome. As they continue their journey in LaLiga and the Champions League, Barcelona will aim to build upon this confidence-boosting win.
