Barcelona Secures 2-1 Comeback Victory, Lamine Yamal Returns with Instant Assist

FC Barcelona moved to the top of the La Liga table after securing a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory against Real Sociedad at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The win capitalised on Real Madrid’s heavy defeat a day earlier and was significantly spurred by the return of star winger, Lamine Yamal.

Real Sociedad initially took the lead against the run of play when Álvaro Odriozola found the back of the net in the 31st minute, finishing off a sharp counter-attack. Barcelona pressed for an immediate response, and their efforts paid off shortly before the break when defender Jules Koundé rose highest to meet a corner kick, powering a header past the Real Sociedad goalkeeper to level the scores at 1-1 in the 43rd minute.

The turning point of the match arrived just before the hour mark with the introduction of Lamine Yamal. The young sensation, returning from a four-match absence due to a pubic-area injury, stepped onto the pitch in the 58th minute and made an immediate, decisive impact. Less than a minute after his substitution, Yamal provided a perfect, inch-perfect cross into the box for Robert Lewandowski, who headed home the winning goal in the 59th minute.

The victory, Barcelona’s fifth in a row across all competitions, places Hansi Flick’s side one point clear at the top of the league. Despite a period of pressure from the visitors, including a late shot that rattled the crossbar, the Catalan giants held on to secure the crucial three points. Prior to kick-off, Yamal presented his Ballon d’Or trophy for the best young player to the home crowd.