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Played
September 10, 2011 12:00 PM EDT
Estadio Municipal de Anoeta — Donostia-San Sebastián
Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Attendance: 25000
September 10, 2011 12:00 PM EDT
Estadio Municipal de Anoeta — Donostia-San Sebastián
Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Attendance: 25000
Top of the Match
Agirretxe
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Cesc Fàbregas
Barcelona
Barcelona
Flop of the Match
David Villa
Barcelona
Barcelona
David Villa
Barcelona
Barcelona
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Real Sociedad 2-2 Barcelona: Agirretxe and Griezmann salvage draw against champions
The Catalan giants failed to sustain their hugely impressive start to the match, after two second-half goals from the Basque club consign them to a disappointing draw
By Livio Caferoglu
Barcelona surprisingly blew a two-goal lead at the Anoeta to draw 2-2 with Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Despite starting with a bang, after goals from Xavi and Cesc Fabregas gave the visitors a commanding early lead, the hosts came back against the odds thanks to an Imanol Agirretxe header and a Antonie Griezmann strike.
The champions came into the fixture in San Sebastian on the back of a five-goal rout against Villarreal a fortnight ago, and despite an international break being sandwiched in the way, they began to dazzle their opponents with their entertaining brand of soccer.
It took just 10 minutes for the Catalans to register the opening goal, thanks to Xavi, after Fabregas' delightfully scooped pass over the host's defense found Alexis Sanchez in the box. The Chilean international squared the ball into the path of the playmaker, who in turn tapped in from close range.
Barcelona doubled its lead moments later, as a near repeat of the move for the first goal was executed once again. Xavi's lobbed through ball dropped in front of Fabregas, who ensured their efforts counted by sliding a rebound into the back of the net, after Sanchez originally failed to beat Claudio Bravo one-on-one from the ex-Arsenal man's cut-back.
The 'tiqui-taca' style football ensued for the remainder of the first half, and it seemed that Pep Guardiola's men would proceed to see the game out with little trouble. However, the second 45 saw a much-improved performance from Real, as it started to step up its search for a route back into the match – it was soon aptly rewarded.
Agirretxe was the man who gave the Basque outfit a fighting chance for a reprieve on 59 minutes, after Xabi Prieto's corner met the hitman, who turned away from his marker to nod a powerful header past Victor Valdes.
Incredibly, the equalizer was found just two minutes later, albeit in rather acromonious circumstances, as David Villa's bizarre pass-back from an advanced position on the right horribly landed in the path of Agirretxe, who went on to shift past an on-rushing Valdes and chip the ball at goal.
However, Sergio Busquets was shown to have parried his effort onto the crossbar, after standing on the line, but the promising French winger Griezmann managed to net the rebound.
Sociedad successfully saw out the course of the encounter to give Real Madrid the initiative, as it faces Getafe later on Saturday.
Despite starting with a bang, after goals from Xavi and Cesc Fabregas gave the visitors a commanding early lead, the hosts came back against the odds thanks to an Imanol Agirretxe header and a Antonie Griezmann strike.
The champions came into the fixture in San Sebastian on the back of a five-goal rout against Villarreal a fortnight ago, and despite an international break being sandwiched in the way, they began to dazzle their opponents with their entertaining brand of soccer.
It took just 10 minutes for the Catalans to register the opening goal, thanks to Xavi, after Fabregas' delightfully scooped pass over the host's defense found Alexis Sanchez in the box. The Chilean international squared the ball into the path of the playmaker, who in turn tapped in from close range.
Barcelona doubled its lead moments later, as a near repeat of the move for the first goal was executed once again. Xavi's lobbed through ball dropped in front of Fabregas, who ensured their efforts counted by sliding a rebound into the back of the net, after Sanchez originally failed to beat Claudio Bravo one-on-one from the ex-Arsenal man's cut-back.
The 'tiqui-taca' style football ensued for the remainder of the first half, and it seemed that Pep Guardiola's men would proceed to see the game out with little trouble. However, the second 45 saw a much-improved performance from Real, as it started to step up its search for a route back into the match – it was soon aptly rewarded.
Agirretxe was the man who gave the Basque outfit a fighting chance for a reprieve on 59 minutes, after Xabi Prieto's corner met the hitman, who turned away from his marker to nod a powerful header past Victor Valdes.
Incredibly, the equalizer was found just two minutes later, albeit in rather acromonious circumstances, as David Villa's bizarre pass-back from an advanced position on the right horribly landed in the path of Agirretxe, who went on to shift past an on-rushing Valdes and chip the ball at goal.
However, Sergio Busquets was shown to have parried his effort onto the crossbar, after standing on the line, but the promising French winger Griezmann managed to net the rebound.
Sociedad successfully saw out the course of the encounter to give Real Madrid the initiative, as it faces Getafe later on Saturday.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EDT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
50 | 10 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
46 | 12 |
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético de Madrid |
24 | 5 |
|
Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker Real Madrid |
22 | 0 |
|
Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
21 | 0 |