Barcelona Overtake Real Madrid at the Top of La Liga

Defending champions Barcelona moved clear at the summit of La Liga with a 2-1 victory over visitors Real Sociedad on Matchday 7, capitalizing on eternal rivals Real Madrid’s 5-2 defeat away to city neighbors Atlético.

For the second consecutive game, Barça came from behind to claim all three points, taking their tally to 19 and moving one point ahead of second-placed Real. Meanwhile, Sociedad’s struggles continued as they remain stuck on just five points, languishing in 17th place.

Despite Barcelona’s early dominance at the Olympic Stadium—where they have returned to host their home fixtures—the Basques struck first on the counter. Ander Barrenetxea showcased his skill by skipping past French right-back Jules Koundé on the edge of the box down the left flank before laying off a superb ball to Álvaro Odriozola, who calmly slotted home (31’).

But just before half-time, after several failed attempts to break through, Barça equalized from a corner delivered by Englishman Marcus Rashford, met by Koundé’s powerful header into the net (43’).

Barcelona kept the pressure on after the break in search of the decisive points to climb top, with German coach Hansi Flick introducing young star Lamine Yamal in the 57th minute after his recent injury absence. Dani Olmo was also brought on up front, replacing 17-year-old Drew Fernández, who had been handed his first-ever La Liga start.

Barely two minutes later, Yamal made an instant impact. Cutting inside from the right, he whipped in a precise cross that Polish striker Robert Lewandowski rose to head into the back of the net, sealing Barça’s win (59’).

The victory was nearly undone late on when Japan international Takefusa Kubo rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike (84’). Moments later, the woodwork again came into play—this time denying Lewandowski from doubling his tally after a brilliant counter-attacking move (85’).

Elsewhere, Elche continued their impressive run with a 2-1 home win over Celta Vigo, moving up to 13 points in fourth, while Celta remain on five in 16th.

Real Betis also claimed an important 2-0 victory over Osasuna. Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli (19’) and Colombian Juan Hernández (30’) found the net to lift the Andalusians to 12 points in sixth, level with Atlético on goal difference after Los Rojiblancos secured the standout result of the round by thrashing Real in the Madrid derby.

Sevilla, sitting eighth on 10 points, edged Rayo Vallecano 1-0 thanks to an 87th-minute strike from Nigerian substitute Akor Adams against the depleted visitors.