Barcelona 4-2 Real Sociedad: Barca win first game after Lionel Messi exit
Barcelona began life without Lionel Messi by beating Real Sociedad in an entertaining La Liga opener.
Gerard Pique opened the scoring for Barca with a powerful header from Memphis Depay’s free-kick.
Martin Braithwaite scored either side of half-time to become the first Danish player to score a La Liga brace.
Real Sociedad pulled it back to 3-2 through Julen Lobete and Mikel Oyarzabal but Sergi Roberto added a fourth for Barcelona in added time.
It was fitting that Barca’s first goal of the season was scored by Pique after the defender agreed to reduce his wages earlier in the week so the club could register three new signings in time for the new season.
Many of the 22,000 Barcelona fans wore Messi shirts to the Nou Camp and chanted for their record goalscorer in the 10th minute after he joined Paris St-Germain on a two-year deal earlier in the week.
New signing Sergio Aguero, who has been ruled out for 10 weeks with a calf injury, watched from the sidelines.
Elsewhere in La Liga, defending champions Atletico Madrid started the season with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo, while their city rivals Real Madrid beat Alaves 4-1 in their season opener on Saturday.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Murara Neto
- 2DestSubstituted forLeite de Souza Juniorat 71′minutes
- 24GarcíaSubstituted forAraujoat 83′minutes
- 3Piqué
- 18Alba
- 21de JongSubstituted forRobertoat 71′minutes
- 5BusquetsBooked at 57minsSubstituted forGonzález Iglesiasat 83′minutesBooked at 84mins
- 16González López
- 7Griezmann
- 9DepaySubstituted forLengletat 90′minutes
- 12Braithwaite
Substitutes
- 4Araujo
- 6Puig Martí
- 14Manaj
- 15Lenglet
- 20Roberto
- 22Leite de Souza Junior
- 26Peña Sotorres
- 27Demir
- 28González Iglesias
- 30Paez Gaviria
- 31Balde
- 36Tenas
Real Sociedad
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Remiro Gargallo
- 2ZalduaSubstituted forGorosabelat 66′minutes
- 6ElustondoBooked at 61minsSubstituted forPachecoat 81′minutes
- 24Le NormandBooked at 78mins
- 12MuñozBooked at 62mins
- 8Merino
- 3ZubimendiBooked at 37mins
- 11JanuzajSubstituted forBarrenetxeaat 45′minutes
- 21SilvaSubstituted forBautistaat 45′minutes
- 10Oyarzabal
- 7Portugués ManzaneraSubstituted forLobeteat 66′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Illarramendi
- 16Guevara
- 18Gorosabel
- 22Barrenetxea
- 25Bautista
- 26Pacheco
- 27Turrientes
- 29Navarro
- 34Ayesa
- 35Lobete
- Referee:
- Alejandro José Hernández Hernández
- Attendance:
- 20,384
Live Text
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Match ends, Barcelona 4, Real Sociedad 2.
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Second Half ends, Barcelona 4, Real Sociedad 2.
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Martin Braithwaite (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad).
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Attempt missed. Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Gerard Piqué (Barcelona).
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Jon Bautista (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Emerson Royal (Barcelona).
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Aihen Muñoz (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! Barcelona 4, Real Sociedad 2. Sergi Roberto (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Martin Braithwaite following a fast break.
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Foul by Ronald Araujo (Barcelona).
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Julen Lobete (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Clément Lenglet replaces Memphis Depay.
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Jordi Alba (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad).
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Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jon Bautista (Real Sociedad).
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Goal! Barcelona 3, Real Sociedad 2. Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
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Nico González (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Nico González (Barcelona).
