Barca sink Real Sociedad in first game without Lionel Messi
Barcelona started life without Lionel Messi by defeating Real Sociedad 4-2 in their La Liga opener at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Captain Gerard Pique gave them a 19th minute lead with Martin Braithwaite finding the net in first-half injury time and in the 59th minute. Sergi Roberto added a fourth in the last minute of the game.
- Sports
- Reuters
- Published Date: 11:44 | 15 August 2021
- Modified Date: 11:50 | 15 August 2021
Barcelona began the post-Lionel Messi era with an entertaining 4-2 home win over Real Sociedad in their first game of the LaLiga season on Sunday.
A header from Gerard Pique gave the Catalans the lead in the 19th minute to the delight of 20,000 fans who returned to the Camp Nou for the first time in 17 months, and Martin Braithwaite struck either side of halftime to extend their lead.
Sociedad looked to be out of the game but substitute Julen Lobete pulled them back into contention in the 82nd minute and forward Mikel Oyarzabal scored a stunning free kick moments later to set Barcelona nerves jangling.
Sergi Roberto struck in added time for the hosts, however, to make sure of the points in Barca's first match without all-time top scorer Messi, who joined Paris St Germain last week after 21 years with the Spanish club.