Rampant Sociedad halt Barca title charge

La Liga, Anoeta - Real Sociedad 3 (Song og 32, Griezmann 54, Zurutuza 59) Barcelona 1 (Messi 36).

Barcelona’s title challenge was dealt a shuddering blow as Tata Martino’s side was beaten 3-1 by a rampant Real Sociedad.

The Basque side battered Barca for much of the game, with goals from Gorka Elustondo, Antoine Griezmann and David Zurutuzagiving La Real all three points.

Sociedad were lively from the start and took the lead after 32 minutes, when Gorka Elustondo’s header from a wicked Sergio Canales cross took a touch off Alex Song on its way into the Barca net.

However, the Liga champions responded almost immediately, with Lionel Messi lashing into the bottom corner after good build-up play by Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets on the edge of the box.

Yet it was Sociedad who took the lead again, when Griezmann finished off a rapid counter attacking move, with Carlos Vela setting up the Frenchman for a simple conversion.

And Sociedad found the net against when Zurutuza nipped in to flick Griezmann’s chipped cross into the penalty area over the hesitant Valdes.