Reuters
Barcelona, April 10: Leaders Barcelona’s Anoeta Stadium jinx struck again Saturday when they lost 0-1 at Real Sociedad, their second successive defeat in La Liga. Winger Mikel Oiarzabal headed the only goal for Sociedad in the fifth minute.
“The game began in the worst way possible,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique. “We played really badly in the first half. We didn’t deserve to lose but we are still the leaders. Now we have to pick ourselves up after leaving this stadium where we never do well.”
Luis Enrique’s Barca now have 76 points with six games to go, one ahead of Atletico and four in front of Real Madrid. After going unbeaten in all competition for six months, Barca have followed last week’s 1-2 defeat by Real Madrid with another slip-up.
Barca, without top scorer Luis Suarez through suspension, fielded a much-changed side and managed just five shots on target all game. The coach made four changes to the team that lost to Real Madrid, bringing back midfielder Rafinha after a six-month injury absence and starting without Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic.
Barca were handed their fifth defeat in six visits to Sociedad after 18-year-old Oiarzabal nodded in a cross from Xabi Prieto. The visitors struggled to get back in the game and home goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli did well to save from Lionel Messi twice, substitute Iniesta and Arda Turan.
Meanwhile Atletico Madrid kept themselves in the championship hunt defeating Espanyol 3-1. Fernando Torres, Antoine Griezmann and Koke sealed the points for Diego Simeone’s side after Papa Diop’s opener in the 29th minute for Espanyol.