Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was on target again as Barcelona scored an important 1-0 victory over top-four rivals Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Thursday.
The closest header in the first half was Aubameyang’s 11th goal in his last 14 games for Barca – as many as he has scored in his last 34 games in all competitions.
It seemed enough to end La Real’s seven undefeated league games at the Reale Arena, with Alexander Isak and Alexander Sorloth ruining their chances.
Barca have moved up to the second place and La Real are six points adrift of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid with five games to play, leading to doubts about their Champions League reach.
La Real conceded their first goal at home in eight league games in the 11th minute. Gavi kept the ball alive after Ousmane Dembele hit the post and fired Ferran Torres, who lifted Aubameyang’s cross to head home.
Frenkie de Jong, Torres, and Aubameyang all missed a goal before Isak made a mistake when he was given a good chance to equalize during the break.
Barça were released within two minutes of a fresh start when Sorloth fired uncontrolled inside a six-yard box after a fine delivery from Adnan Januzaj.
There was a brief disruption due to the throwing of objects at Gerard Pique’s tents, with the midfielder in the back talking about their anger after the release of audio clips against him negotiating a deal to move Supercopa de Espana to Saudi Arabia. .
Pique was playing after appearing to ask for a replacement in the first half but Barca lost Ronald Araujo to a knee injury in the 55th minute.
Sorloth and Januzaj were blocked by Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gavi missed an opportunity to put the game aside, but Xavi’s team managed to hold on to three key points.
