The LaLiga title race has become intense after Barcelona faced a surprising loss against Real Sociedad, concluding with a score of 2-1. The absence of Raphinha due to a thigh injury critically hampered Barcelona’s attacking strength, allowing Sociedad to exploit the situation and stop Barcelona’s unbeaten run of 11 games across all competitions.

Pellegrino Matarazzo, leading Real Sociedad, effectively strategized his team’s play, leading to an impressive victory despite Barcelona controlling the match with 73% possession. Since taking the reins during the LaLiga winter break, Matarazzo remains unbeaten in four matches, with equal contributions to their push up the league standings.

This loss has trimmed Barcelona’s lead in LaLiga over Real Madrid to just one point. Meanwhile, Madrid, undergoing a managerial change with Alvaro Arbeloa succeeding Xabi Alonso, is still navigating their own challenges in the league and international competitions. Losing Raphinha for an extended period raises concerns about Barcelona’s ability to maintain their form without one of their key players, highlighting the importance of their rotation strategy ahead of upcoming matches, including a crucial Champions League clash against Slavia Praha.