{"id":21019,"date":"2023-11-04T00:07:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T00:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/barca-must-bounce-back-at-real-sociedad-after-clasico-collapse-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-11-04T00:07:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T00:07:13","slug":"barca-must-bounce-back-at-real-sociedad-after-clasico-collapse-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/barca-must-bounce-back-at-real-sociedad-after-clasico-collapse-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Barca must bounce back at Real Sociedad after Clasico collapse | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nBARCELONA:
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Barcelona must bounce back from their Clasico collapse in a tricky trip to face Real Sociedad<\/a> on Saturday in La Liga.<\/p>\n

Despite dominating most of the game the Catalans were sucker-punched by Jude Bellingham’s stunning double strie last weekend to fall four points behind league leaders Real Madrid.<\/p>\n

Barcelona are fourth. Real Sociedad, five points behind in fifth will be determined to cut the gap in San Sebastian.<\/p>\n

Real Madrid host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, while second-place Girona visit Osasuna Saturday, with Atletico Madrid, third, at Las Palmas on Friday.<\/p>\n

Barcelona<\/a> coach Xavi Hernandez’s message to his players after the painful Clasico defeat was that the season is far from over.<\/p>\n

“The message is that this is long, it’s the 11th game,” said Xavi.<\/p>\n

“We are frustrated, upset, but we have to continue.”<\/p>\n

The coach noted that last season, champions Barcelona fell to Madrid at home on their way to the title and said his team were still on the right path.<\/p>\n

“Last year we lost too, in La Liga there is an eternity to go. We took a step forward in our play, that is what we wanted,” added Xavi.<\/p>\n

The painful loss could spark positive change at Barcelona.<\/p>\n

Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan called on his team-mates to show more passion going forwards.<\/p>\n

“After such a big game and a result that is so unnecessary, I wish for more frustration, more anger and more disappointment,” the former Manchester City man told LaLiga TV.<\/p>\n

“We need to make a huge step in that because otherwise Real Madrid or even Girona are going to run away (from us).”<\/p>\n

The Catalans are also starting to welcome back their injured stars who missed the Clasico or only played minor roles.<\/p>\n

Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha came off the bench against Madrid but did not influence the game.<\/p>\n

Jules Kounde and Pedri could return against Real Sociedad, while Frenkie de Jong is less likely to feature, according to Spanish reports.<\/p>\n

There are few more difficult teams Barcelona could have faced than Imanol Alguacil’s Real Sociedad, despite a recent good record at the Reale Arena.<\/p>\n

The Basque side have impressed in the Champions League, where they top Group D, and have only suffered two defeats in 11 league matches.<\/p>\n

Former Barcelona winger Takefusa Kubo is thriving, while Brais Mendez is one of the division’s in-form players.<\/p>\n

Barcelona have not lost away to La Real since 2016, a fine run at a ground where they have historically struggled.<\/p>\n

A defeat by David Moyes’ Real Sociedad in January 2015 almost brought the Luis Enrique era crashing to an end, months before the Catalans won the treble.<\/p>\n

Following the Clasico disappointment, Barcelona must heed Gundogan’s warning and can ill afford further dropped points in the title race.<\/p>\n

Former Real Madrid playmaker Isco has found his footing at Betis and is delivering decisive performances on a regular basis. The midfielder, 31, is in excellent shape and a joy to watch and he will be hoping to shine again when Real Mallorca visit on Saturday, as Betis continue to fight for European football next season.<\/p>\n

5 – Villarreal have not won in five La Liga games for the first time since March 2021<\/p>\n

29 – Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas has had more shots without scoring than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues<\/p>\n

450 – Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, an Argentine, is closing in on the most games coached by a foreigner in Spain. He is 38 matches short of Slovak Ferdinand Daucik’s record of 488 set with a slew of clubs between 1950 and 1971<\/p>\n<\/div>\n