The Japan Times - Real Sociedad end Barca winning streak to tighten Liga title race

The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa's side beat Levante on Saturday.

Hosts Real Sociedad, now unbeaten in four games under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, had Carlos Soler sent off late on but managed to hold on to triumph.

In a frantic start to a compelling game at the rainy Reale Arena both teams had goals ruled out.

La Real had the ball in the net inside 30 seconds when Mikel Oyarzabal headed home Goncalo Guedes's cross, but had strayed offside.

At the other end Barcelona's Fermin Lopez drilled home from range but Dani Olmo had committed a foul in the build-up and it was ruled out.

With teenage winger Lamine Yamal keen to take on defenders, Barca got in often down the right flank. The 18-year-old teed up Olmo who fired high over the bar when he might have sent the Catalans ahead.

Yamal found the net himself but the goal was ruled out for an extremely tight offside, before Real Sociedad took the lead against the run of play.

Oyarzabal lashed home Guedes's cross with a blistering volley inside Joan Garcia's near post.

Yamal was felled just inside the area before half-time but although the referee pointed to the spot, a VAR review showed the youngster was offside again and it was cancelled.

Barcelona turned up the pressure in the second half and Real Sociedad were left depending on their goalkeeper Alex Remiro and the frame of the goal to keep the Catalans at bay.

Olmo crashed a shot against the post from Lopez's cross and then Remiro denied the Barca midfielder with a fine near-post save.

Remiro then tipped substitute Robert Lewandowski's header against the crossbar with the save of the night.

Another Barca substitute Marcus Rashford eventually pulled the champions level, heading Yamal's cross home after 70 minutes.

However the hosts immediately regained their advantage, with Barca goalkeeper Garcia erring as he saved Carlos Soler's shot. The midfielder was able to gather the rebound and cross for Guedes, who fired La Real ahead again.

They should have got a third when Garcia, out of his goal, had no chance of saving Oyarzabal's effort but Pau Cubarsi headed off the line.

Barcelona came within centimetres of an equaliser when Joao Cancelo, on his second debut for the club, crossed for Jules Kounde, who headed against the crossbar.

Soler was dismissed for an ugly foul on Pedri before nine minutes of stoppage time were added on.

Rashford hit the post directly from a corner kick as Barca pushed until the end but could not find a way through.

H.Hayashi--JT