Barcelona reclaim top spot with 4-0 win over 10-man Sociedad
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - March 2, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their fourth goal with teammates REUTERS/Albert Gea
BARCELONA: Barcelona secured a comfortable 4-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday (Mar 2) to move back top of La Liga.
Aritz Elustondo's early red card gave Hansi Flick's side a comfortable afternoon with Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski on the scoresheet.
Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to temporarily knock the Catalans from their perch, while Real Madrid, third, lost at Real Betis.
Flick was able to rotate his side a little ahead of the Champions League last 16 visit to face Benfica on Wednesday.
"I'm very happy for our performance and it was important to win and go back to being leaders," Araujo told Movistar.
"I'm happy for the good work we did and going first again."
Since recovering from a bad knee injury, Araujo has been unable to reclaim a regular starting spot in defence.
"I came back from a long term injury, I'm calm and going step by step, I believe in myself and my characteristics, and I am happy to help," said Araujo.
Real Sociedad, ninth, threatened in the opening stages but fell foul of Barcelona's offside trap, with Sergio Gomez's strike ruled out.
At the other end Barcelona playmaker Pedri Gonzalez came close when he pressed La Real goalkeeper Alex Remiro and deflected his attempted clearance just over and onto the roof of the net.
The game swung Barcelona's way when Elustondo was sent off in the 17th minute for pulling down Dani Olmo, who was running through on goal.
Four minutes later, Barca had their second, with Olmo involved again, this time his wayward shot deflected home by team-mate Casado.
The enterprising Lamine Yamal teed up Pedri but Remiro saved his shot from the edge of the box as Barca dominated.
Pedri came close again after the break with an effort from range which bounced back off the crossbar, shortly before Araujo nabbed the third.
Lewandowski cleverly converted Barcelona's fourth, prodding home Araujo's low drive from distance.
The 36-year-old leads the league with 21 goals in 25 appearances.
Barcelona played out the final half hour without incident, occasionally threatening, with substitute Ferran Torres twice coming close to a fifth.
"The red card, after that the game changed completely, we came here to try and dominate the ball," said Real Sociedad defender Javi Lopez.
"A sending-off changes everything... they also had luck on their goals and that makes it very difficult against one of the best teams in the world."
