Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad: 5 Talking Points

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Barca celebrate clinching another league title

Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 1-0 at home in their last game of the season to finish the campaign with 93 points in the league. The only goal of the game came through Phillipe Coutinho, as the Brazilian's second-half opener was enough to secure the three points for Barca.

The Blaugrana finish their historic and record-breaking season with 28 wins and just 1 defeat in the league, 14 points clear off second-placed Atletico Madrid as they comfortably secured their seventh La Liga trophy this year in the last 10 seasons.

On the other hand, Real Sociedad has underachieved this season as they finished 11th in the table, with 14 wins and 49 points and, no point of the season looked like real contenders at challenging for the Europa League places.

On that note here is a look at the talking points from the game:


#5 Barcelona defence has a busy outing

2018 La Liga Football FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad May 20th
Pique and Mina were rock solid at the back

It was an active and busy night for the Barcelona back four as they were forced to work hard in the final game of the season by the Real Sociedad attack. The return of Gerard Pique into the starting lineup was crucial, as his veteran leadership helped Barca keeping things tight at the back.

January signing Yerry Mina prospered from the presence of the Spaniard alongside him following a disastrous outing against Levante last weekend. The Colombian made two interceptions and committed just one foul as all the nerves had gone away as Mina was very aware in defence.

Fullbacks Nelson Semedo and Jordi Alba also chipped in with substantial defensive performances, combining with a total of five successful tackles along with providing service in the attacking half of the pitch.

But Pique led from the front, doing everything on the night from putting his body on the line to making last-ditch challenges as clearing the ball the ball out of danger on multiple occasions. The 31-year-old was decisive and accumulated a total of eight clearances as Barcelona kept another clean sheet to cap off another successful season.

#4 Navas escapes a sending-off

Barcelona v Real Sociedad - La Liga
Navas was lucky to remain on the pitch

Real Sociedad centre-back Raul Navas was fortunate not to receive his marching orders for a foul on Ousmane Dembele on the stroke of halftime.

Navas lunged into a horrific challenge as his studs caught Dembele's ankles that further caused a severe deal of pain for the Barcelona winger. However, he surprisingly received only a yellow card from the match official and carried on for the rest of the game.

This enraged the Barca players and fans as they were clearly unhappy with the decision but their protests were not going to influence the referee changing his minds and the game moved forward.

Sociedad's veteran centre-back had a mixed game as he committed two fouls, received a booking and on the other end, created a couple of half chances for himself from set pieces.

#3 Coutinho Delivers once again

2018 La Liga Football FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad May 20th
Coutinho was Barca's match winner

Phillipe Coutinho's goal in the 57th minute proved to be enough for Barcelona to clinch the win in the final game of the season. The Brazilian capped off his eighth goal of the season in the league, scoring a beauty from outside the box with his only attempt at goal in the entire game.

Coutinho has stepped up his game in the past month since he started gaining more starts at Barcelona that has helped him settle into the system. This has reaped rewards as well as he has scored five goals in the last three games, including a hattrick against Levante last week.

These are encouraging signs for Barca and Ernesto Valverde as they will expecting more output from the midfielder next season, in the absence of Andres Iniesta, to provide the service for the frontman as well as chip in with the goals.

But after enduring a tough start to his career in Catalonia, Coutinho seems to be getting accustomed to playing the Barcelona way in recent matches as he has been getting more game time and the same will be demanded next campaign as he will have to justify his £142 million record transfer fee.

#2 Real Sociedad lack precision in the final third

Barcelona v Real Sociedad - La Liga
Barcelona v Real Sociedad - La Liga

Real Sociedad created a number of good chances in the game and can only blame themselves for not being able to capitalize on their opportunities as they fell short by just a one-goal margin.

The visitors registered 13 total shots in the game but only five of them were on target. Striker Willian Jose had four shots in the game but only one was on target as he squandered some glorious goalscoring chances.

Adnan Januzaj, Juanmi and Mikel Oyarzabal also tried their luck at goal but none of their shots were compelling enough to possess threat on the Barcelona goal and bring out saves from goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

The Sociedad players lacked composure in the box that led to them missing so many great chances as all the effort that was being put in by the midfielders and wingers was going to waste with the lack of end product as they were unable to spoil the party in Andres Iniesta's last game.

#1 Iniesta Bids Adieu

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A tearful Iniesta as he says goodbye to the Barca faithful

Andres Iniesta played his last game at Camp Nou and as an FC Barcelona player on Sunday Night. He put in a stellar performance, creating as well as setting up chances for both himself and his teammates, the same way he has been doing it for the past 16 years.

The Spaniard came close to getting his name on the scoresheet but his effort could only shave the side netting.

Iniesta was able to have only one attempt at goal along with a pass completion rate of 90% as well as completing three dribbles in his final appearance before he made way in the 81st minute to a standing ovation and applause from both sets of players, team management and fans alike.

This brings an end to an illustrious and highly successful career for the Spaniard in his native Catalonia, where he made 674 appearances and won 32 trophies for his boyhood club that included match-winning goals as he has been a focal point in the success Barcelona have achieved over the last decade and a half.

Barcelona v Real Sociedad - La Liga

Iniesta's future is undecided but he will surely be missed by his club as well as the La Liga. He is one of the few players who was equally appreciated and respected by opposition fans, which included games where his contribution from midfield would get overshadowed by special individual performances of his teammates.

Andres Iniesta has always been a special and unique footballer, one of a kind, someone who will be irreplaceable at Barcelona.

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Edited by Sripad