Barcelona's successes and shortcomings: Yamal's excellence does not rely on scoring.

 

The young striker showcased yet another impressive display, characterized by extraordinary dribbles and unexpected maneuvers. In his pursuit of scoring a goal to cap off his performance, he appeared to become increasingly fixated as the match progressed.

Szczesny: In the initial minutes, he needed to maintain focus due to the pressure exerted by his opponents, despite the fact that they did not register a single shot on target. Following Aritz's dismissal, the Polish goalkeeper's involvement became minimal. He only made two or three touches with his feet and little more. Had his vape been within reach, he would have likely taken advantage of it.

Koundé: The match proved to be relatively straightforward for the French winger, particularly after Elustuondo received a red card. He was free to launch attacks at will, consistently providing Yamal with options for advancement. His numerous actions within the opponent's penalty area created significant threats. He concluded the match in a centre-back position after Hector Fort replaced Araújo.

Araújo: He netted his first goal of the LaLiga season by capitalizing on a clearance from Remiro following a powerful header by Lewandowski. His celebration was quite exuberant. Additionally, he played a crucial role in Lewandowski's goal, which resulted from a precise shot taken by the Uruguayan from outside the penalty area.

Cubarsí: The match proved to be relatively straightforward for the youth-team player, particularly after Real Sociedad was reduced to ten men. He was substituted in the 59th minute, with the upcoming fixture against Benfica in Lisbon already in sight.

Martín: This was his finest performance for the Blaugrana. Prior to scoring the opening goal, he exhibited remarkable intensity in delivering long passes to Raphinha. He marked his debut as a goalscorer following an impressive play by Yamal, which included a generous assist from Olmo. Although he had attempted to score earlier, that effort had gone wide. This match will be remembered fondly.

Casadó: He also celebrated his first goal, albeit with a stroke of luck, as he capitalized on a misfired shot from Olmo, managing to deflect the ball just enough for it to hit the post and find the net. He regained his role as a defensive pivot, particularly excelling in ball recovery. Araújo's header resulted from a cross he had previously delivered to Lewandowski.