Barcelona veteran’s words to Inaki Pena that highlighted the team’s problems vs Real Sociedad

Barcelona endured one of their most challenging nights of the season last Sunday where they were met with a 0-1 defeat against Real Sociedad, a team that pressed with intense energy throughout the match.

The high-pressure game posed significant difficulties for Hansi Flick’s team, who struggled to find any way to break through Sociedad’s relentless play.

One of the few moments that could have altered the outcome was Robert Lewandowski’s disallowed goal, a decision that many felt was incorrect, but overall, Barcelona failed to recover or adjust effectively.

Moment between Inigo and Inaki

One of the major issues for Barcelona in this match was their inability to effectively move the ball out from the back.

While they had successfully dealt with the pressing tactics of teams like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in previous games, they could not replicate the same success against Sociedad. This inability to deal with pressure led to constant struggles in their defensive and midfield transitions.

On the pitch, Barcelona players attempted to communicate and find solutions to break through the Sociedad press.

Midfielders like Marc Casado stepped up, speaking with Inigo Martinez and goalkeeper Inaki Pena in an attempt to solve the pressing issues, while others also tried to find answers.

In one instance, Inigo warned Pena about a dangerous pass, advising him against sending a ball in his direction as he was isolated and likely to lose possession.

“Inaki, don’t give me that ball, I’m alone. I’m going to lose it,” he told the goalkeeper. 

As the match progressed, Pena ultimately listened to Martinez, but his long ball to Robert Lewandowski was poorly executed, and the Polish striker failed to contest the ball. This led to Real Sociedad’s opening goal.

The frustration on the face of Flick was evident as he watched the goal unfold, while Pau Cubarsi was seen brushing off the turf in disbelief. This moment was symbolic of the many issues Barcelona faced on the day, ultimately leading to a disappointing loss.