Uruguayan defender saves Barca in injury time.

Spanish striker Ronald Araujo shone with a spectacular diving header in the second minute of added time, helping Barca win 1-0 away at Real Sociedad in La Liga's 12th round.

Barca's best chances came in injury time at Anoeta yesterday. In the first minute of added time, Pedri provided a perfect assist for Gavi, who took a one-touch shot unmarked in the penalty area, but he couldn't beat goalkeeper Alex Remiro.

The difference came just a minute later, when Ilkay Gundogan chipped the ball into the penalty area for Araujo to leap and head the ball through the legs of the Sociedad goalkeeper. The Uruguayan defender collapsed to the ground clutching his head as he turned to see the linesman raise the flag for offside. But VAR intervened, marking the line and confirming Araujo's goal was valid.

Ronald Araujo's diving header found the back of the net, helping Barca defeat hosts Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium in the 12th round of La Liga on November 4th. Photo: Reuters

At 91 minutes and 58 seconds, Araujo scored the latest winning goal for Barca in La Liga since Robert Lewandowski scored in the 92nd minute and 55 seconds against Valencia in October 2022. This was also the 24-year-old center-back's first goal in nine matches across all competitions this season.

Similar to the El Clasico defeat against Real Madrid 1-2 a week ago, Xavi continued to use a 3-5-2 formation when visiting Sociedad with a three-man central defense of Inigo Martinez, Jules Kounde, and Ronald Araujo. The two wing-backs were Alejandro Balde and Joao Cancelo, while the attack was a combination of Joao Felix and Robert Lewandowski.

Barca played erratically in their new system and repeatedly allowed Sociedad to create dangerous opportunities in the first half. Just 25 seconds into the game, Ander Barrenetxea penetrated the penalty area and had a clear shot with his right foot towards the near corner, but it was saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

In the 2nd minute, Kounde's misplaced back pass turned into an assist for Oyarzabal, who was one-on-one with the ball. The number 10 striker took a one-touch shot diagonally, but Ter Stegen pushed it out for a corner. From the subsequent corner, Mikel Merino headed diagonally, narrowly missing the post. In the 16th minute, from a cross from the left wing, Kubo Takefusa took a one-touch shot from a tight angle, but Ter Stegen saved it with his foot.

Kounde (number 23) in an aerial duel with Oyarzabal on the Anoeta pitch on November 4. Photo: AFP

In the second half, Sociedad continued their dominance with a controversial incident in the 66th minute. Kounde tripped Oyarzabal inside the penalty area, but referee Javier Alberola did not blow the whistle and VAR did not intervene. A few minutes later, Barrenetxea unleashed a powerful volley from outside the box, but it was still saved by Ter Stegen.

Barca only truly exploded in the final 15 minutes, with shots from Raphinha and Gavi, before finally making the difference with a goal from Araujo. With the 1-0 victory, Barca narrowed the gap with Real to one point, but have played one more game.

On November 7th, Xavi's team will travel to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the fourth matchday of Group H of the Champions League. If they win, Barca will secure their place in the knockout round with two matches to spare.

Starting lineup :

Sociedad : Remiro; Munoz, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Traore (Elustondo 63); Merino, Zubimendi, Mendez; Barrenetxea (Mohamed-Ali Cho 79), Oyarzabal (Fernandez 84), Kubo.

Barca : Ter Stegen; Martínez, Kounde, Araujo; Balde, Gundogan, Gavi, Cancelo (Raphinha 69); Lopez (Torres 57); Felix (Yamal 69), Lewandowski (Pedri 57).

Hong Duy

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