Barcelona break an unwanted 10-year-old record against Real Sociedad

After having started the season with a display of immense attacking potential, Barcelona faced a major setback against Real Sociedad.

The team, which had previously been celebrated for their ability to score against any opposition, stumbled in a performance that left everyone puzzled.

Missing the young talent Lamine Yamal, who had been ruled out due to discomfort in his right ankle, Barça appeared hesitant and ineffective in their offensive play.

Interestingly, Yamal wasn’t part of the lineup in their only other La Liga defeat against Osasuna, a match that ended in a 2-4 loss.

A dreadful stat

Meanwhile, a startling statistic came to foray which highlights the disarray within Hansi Flick’s squad during the match: not a single shot on target.

The Real Sociedad keeper had one of the easiest games he’s likely had all season, with no genuine saves required throughout the match.

There was only one close call—he had to react to a rebound—but beyond that, the Barcelona attack posed little threat.

Interestingly, it has been over a decade since such an occurrence last happened to Barça. Not since a 2014 match under coach Luis Enrique against Malaga had Barcelona failed to register a shot on target.

For a team that prides itself on offensive firepower, the lack of shots was an unusual and worrying development.

This lacklustre performance stood in stark contrast to Barcelona’s earlier displays this season. Flick’s side had gone on an impressive run of seven games where they scored three or more goals, defeating teams Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

However, despite 11 attempts on goal in this match, none seriously troubled the Real Sociedad keeper, and even a strike from Robert Lewandowski that hit the back of the net was ruled out by VAR for offside.

Furthermore, for the first time this season, Barcelona ended a match without scoring. In their previous 16 competitive matches, they had managed to find the net in each one, even in defeats.