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Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba scored his first goal of the season in some style on Wednesday in a crunch clash against table-toppers Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou.
Antoine Griezmann showed brilliant control to bring the ball down beautifully and play a pass across goal. Pedri managed to get a touch to deflect the ball onto the left-back who curled a stunning strike past goalkeeper Alex Remiro and into the top corner with his weaker foot.
It’s a rare goal for the 31-year-old and is the first time he has found the back of the net this season for Barcelona. Yet the left-back has been prolific when it comes to assists in 2020-21.
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Barcelona Hit Back
The goal made it 1-1 to Barcelona just four minutes after they had gone behind to Willian Jose’s strike. The 29-year-old struck at the far post from a low cross in by Portu following a corner.
The visitors’ goal came against the run of play after Barca had started brightly. Yet Ronald Koeman’s men were able to quickly hit back and then had more chances to score after Alba’s equalizer.
Griezmann saw an effort hit the crossbar after he had rounded Remiro, while Martin Braithwaite wasted a glorious opportunity minutes later. The Denmark international was teed up by Pedri but blasted an effort over the bar with just the goalkeeper to beat.
De Jong Strikes for Barcelona
Yet Barcelona did manage to grab the lead just before half-time. Frenkie de Jong poked home Alba’s deflected cross from close range but the goal was originally ruled out for offside.
However, the goal was given after a VAR check showed the Netherlands international was clearly onside, giving Barca the lead two minutes before the end of the opening 45 minutes.
It’s also De Jong’s first goal of the season for Barca and comes after an assist in his last outing. The Dutchman has been deployed in a more advanced position by Koeman in the team’s last two games and it seems to be paying off.
Barca should have made it 3-1 at the start of the second half when Griezmann passed up a glorious opportunity to net from close range. Alba’s cross deflected into the Frenchman’s path but he somehow conspired to miss with the goal gaping.
The Frenchman was taken off shortly afterwards and given a breather along with Sergio Busquets as Koeman brought on Carles Alena and Francisco Trincao in a bid to freshen up his side for the closing stages.
Barca survived a few late scares from Real Sociedad to hang on for an important victory that moves the team into fifth place in the league table. It is also the first time they have come from a goal behind to take all three points since Koeman took charge of the club in August.
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