Ronald Araujo scored a dramatic injury-time winner, awarded by the video assistant referee, as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad in La Liga.
The defender threw himself at Ilkay Gundogan’s cross and headed the ball through goalkeeper Alex Remiro’s legs.
It was initially flagged offside but the VAR ruled he was onside.
The win was scarcely deserved as Real Sociedad had the better chances – with Takefusa Kubo and Martin Zubimendi denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barca’s biggest opportunity before the goal was just moments earlier when Gavi’s shot was saved by Remiro.
Barcelona move up to third but remain four points behind surprise La Liga leaders, their local neighbours Girona.
Girona’s 4-2 win at Osasuna earlier in the day took the Catalan minnows back to the top of the La Liga table.
Second-placed Real Madrid could go back to the top on Sunday if they beat Rayo Vallecano at 20:00 GMT.
Line-ups
Real Sociedad
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Remiro
- 18TraoréSubstituted forElustondoat 63′minutes
- 5ZubeldiaBooked at 74mins
- 24Le Normand
- 3Muñoz
- 23MéndezBooked at 49mins
- 8Merino
- 4ZubimendiBooked at 84mins
- 14Kubo
- 10OyarzabalSubstituted forFernándezat 84′minutes
- 7BarrenetxeaSubstituted forChoat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Odriozola
- 6Elustondo
- 9Fernández
- 11Cho
- 12Zakharyan
- 16Olasagasti
- 19Sadiq
- 22Turrientes
- 26González
- 29Marín
- 32Marrero
- 39Aramburu
Barcelona
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1ter Stegen
- 4Araujo
- 23Koundé
- 5MartínezBooked at 60mins
- 2CanceloSubstituted forRaphinhaat 69′minutes
- 6GaviBooked at 86mins
- 22Gündogan
- 3Balde
- 32LópezSubstituted forF Torresat 57′minutes
- 9LewandowskiSubstituted forPedriat 57′minutes
- 14João FélixBooked at 49minsSubstituted forYamalat 69′minutes
Substitutes
- 7F Torres
- 8Pedri
- 11Raphinha
- 13Peña Sotorres
- 15Christensen
- 17Alonso
- 18Romeu
- 26Astralaga
- 27Yamal
- 30Casadó
- Referee:
- Javier Alberola Rojas
- Attendance:
- 37,555
Live Text
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Match ends, Real Sociedad 0, Barcelona 1.
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Second Half ends, Real Sociedad 0, Barcelona 1.
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VAR Decision: Goal Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona (Ronald Araujo).
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Goal! Real Sociedad 0, Barcelona 1. Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
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Foul by Ronald Araujo (Barcelona).
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Mohamed-Ali Cho (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Gavi (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pedri.
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Attempt saved. Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jules Koundé.
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Attempt missed. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Raphinha.
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Gavi (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt blocked. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pedri.
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Attempt blocked. Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan with a cross.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Aihen Muñoz.
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Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad).
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Raphinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Real Sociedad. Carlos Fernández replaces Mikel Oyarzabal.
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Foul by Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad).
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Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
