Barcelona cruised to the top of La Liga with a commanding 4-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The Catalan side took full advantage of playing against ten men for most of the match after Real Sociedad's Aritz Elustondo was sent off early for denying Dani Olmo a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
From the 17th minute of the game, when Elustondo's early exit left his teammates at a serious disadvantage, Barcelona began asserting their dominance. Just eight minutes later, the home side struck first: Olmo set up Gerard Martin, who scored his very first professional goal with a stunning volley from inside the box. Martin’s goal exemplified the kind of attacking flair Barcelona aimed to showcase.
Kept under pressure, Real Sociedad struggled to find their rhythm following the early setback. Barcelona doubled their lead shortly after, with Marc Casado scoring another debut goal. This time, the young talent redirected Olmo’s shot, catching the goalkeeper Alex Remiro off guard and finding the back of the net.
Barcelona’s momentum continued as they headed to the locker rooms at halftime with a comfortable two-goal cushion. They returned to the pitch intending to reinforce their strong standing, and ten minutes after the break, Ronald Araujo made it 3-0. After Lewandowski's header was cleverly saved, Araujo was on hand to finish off the rebound, showing the team's relentless pursuit of goal-scoring opportunities.
The final touch to the scoreboard came through Robert Lewandowski, who, as if on cue, muscled his way onto the scoresheet. A curling shot from Araujo was deflected by Lewandowski, ensuring he extended his lead as the league’s top scorer. His contributions on the pitch reflected his status as the team's focal point, with each of his touches creating significant danger for the opposition.
Barcelona’s comprehensive win placed them back atop the La Liga table with 57 points. This victory leaves them just one point clear of Atlético Madrid, who currently sit second. Real Sociedad, on the other hand, remains grounded in ninth place, with only 34 points to their name.
Reacting after the match, Araujo expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and the significance of the victory. "We’re happy about the way we played. It was important to win today, to go first in the table. We’re happy and we feel we’re working really well," Araujo stated, hinting at the positive momentum the team has built leading up to their upcoming fixtures.
Up next for Barcelona will be their clash against Benfica on Wednesday for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, which promises to be yet another test for the squad. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad must regroup to face Manchester United for their own Europa League fixture, hoping to turn the tide on their form after this heavy defeat.
This latest triumph is not just about the points accrued but showcases Barcelona's potential and intent to reclaim their title as they navigate through the final stretch of the season. The Barcelona fans, having witnessed their team return to form and claim leadership, couldn’t have asked for a more thrilling performance.
With the next round of La Liga fixtures looming, the focus will firmly rest on whether Barcelona can maintain their lead at the summit against their competitors like Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, who suffered setbacks of their own over the weekend.
Fans are eager to see how their team adapts and continues to dazzle through the remainder of the season, as the excitement for the league title race heats up.