Real Sociedad v Barcelona: La Liga – as it happened

Thanks for joining me on what has been an exciting night. Barcelona looked all at sea in the opening 45 minutes but in the wind and the rain they recovered to show why they are running away with the league and maintained their unbeaten record. Anyway, until we meet again.

Mark emails to say it’s the best game he’s seen this season. Was it? The Sevilla derby wasn’t too bad last week…

What a game that was! Real Sociedad looked like they were going to get a much-deserved win as they were the better team in the first-half but Barcelona showed what they are made of as Suarez and Messi led them to victory with some wonderful finishes. There is nothing for La Real to be ashamed of but it could have been so much more.

90+2 min: Pique goes in the book for a pointless foul on Oyarzabal.

90+1min: Three minutes are being added on here but the game is certainly over.

89 min: Denis Suarez is being sent on to enjoy the last few moments of the game, which is all the former Manchester City man will want.

88 min: Januzaj wins a corner after some decent footwork in the corner. Barcelona manage to clear it without much fuss.

It’s a stunning free-kick from Messi. The Barcelona No10 sends lifts the set-piece up and over the wall from 30 yards out and the ball hits the back of the net halfway up. Rulli didn’t move and there was no reason to, either.

A sumptuous free-kick from Messi.

84 min: Luis Suarez is caught by Oyarzabal on the ankle and spends a few seconds holding his leg as a writhes around in pain.

Not a bad record…

82 min: Messi almost scores one of the goals of the decade as he chests the ball down, flicks the ball over his own head and then smashes a volley with his right from 20 yards but Rulli gets down to stop it and the ball is cleared before a Barcelona player can net the rebound.

79 min: Now it’s Barcelona’s turn to make a change as Digne replaces Andre Gomes, which the first thing the Portuguese has done tonight.

78 min: Sunderland legend Adnan Januzaj is coming on as Real Sociedad chase the game. Xabi Prieto is the man to make way.

76 min: Messi bends a free-kick over the wall from 30 yards but the ball bounces just wide of the post, not that Rulli was ever worried by the shot.

74 min: Barcelona and Real Sociedad are now playing against each other and the rain, which should make the last 20 minutes interesting. A ball to the back post from La Real is knocked back by Rodrigues to Oyarzabal who smashes a half-volley over from 20 yards.

Barcelona make the most of a mistake from Real Sociedad as Sureaz is played in by a txuri-urdin midfielder who headed the ball towards his own goal but could only find Luis Suarez who ran through and put the ball beyond Rulli.

The Uruguayan completes the turnaround.

71 min: Sergi Roberto sends the ball down the line for Dembele who keeps it in, thanks to the rain, but then his cross into the box is straight at Rulli, even though he had plenty of time. Poor from Dembele.

70 min: Alba this time finds a team-mate from a cross but Suarez’s shot smashes straight into Navas.

69 min: Messi clips a pass to the back post where an onrushing Jordi Alba cuts the ball back to no one as Suarez is just behind his team-mate.

Sid knows…

Luis Suarez is influential…

66 min: Terry Gibson points out that Andre Gomes should have gone off. I’ll be honest, I had already written the Portuguese’s name.

65 min: Here comes Dembele who is replacing goalscorer Paulinho. Maybe Barcelona will go more 4-3-3 now.

63 min: Messi does his best to take on the entire Real Sociedad team but is eventually stopped by Illarramendi and Zubeldia, the former is booked for the foul. It really is very wet in San Sebastian now.

62 min: A Real Sociedad corner comes to nothing as Willian Jose flicks his header well wide of goal.

61 min: Pique runs the ball into his own corner and fails to find a way out, so just kicks the ball out for a throw. Looks like Dembele is coming on for Barcelona. The rain is still pouring, updates on the old man snoring to come.

60 min: Sergi Roberto is booked for some shenanigans in the corner relating to a throw-in.

59 min: The few Barcelona fans who have made the trip to San Sebastian will at least get to sample the delights of the pintxos bars, where they can sample some crab, chorizo or maybe even some bacalao. Oyarzabal on for Juanmi for Real Sociedad now.

57 min: Canales is having a very good game but shooting from 50 yards off balance is ambitious. The ball lands comfortably in the arms of Ter Stegen.

56 min: Zurutuza is on the deck and looking like he wants to be replaced. Real Sociedad will be bringing on Zubeldia.

53 min: How will Real Sociedad react to losing a two-goal lead? Barcelona have their tails up now and will not be resting now the scores are level.

Messi finds space and runs at the Real Sociedad defence, before playing in Suarez who hits the ball first time from the left-hand side of the area and the ball loops perfectly beyond Rulli into the top corner. Perfect placement.