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With all the drama going on in La Liga and TV providers, it seems like this will be the last weekend we will see any La Liga action. Players are willing to join the strike, that starts May 16, stopping the last two matches and the Copa del Rey to take action. There is still soccer to be played this weekend and Barcelona went up against Real Sociedad on Saturday afternoon at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona went into this game with the mentality of acquiring the three points to stay on top of La Liga BBVA and five points ahead of rivals Real Madrid. The Catalans have not been able to win against Real Sociedad in the last two meetings and the one team that Luis Enrique has not been able to win against as well since starting his coaching career against Celta de Vigo. Neymar got his 22nd goal of the season and his 50th goal for Barcelona as he headed in the first goal of the match.
Key players for Barcelona were not in the starting XI, they receieved a break before facing Bayern Munich for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic were all on the bench while Marc, Bartra, Adriano, Rafinha Alcantara and Xavi Hernandez all saw playing time. Carlos Vela was in the lineup for Real Sociedad, but struggled to get something going.
The majority of the first half was all Barcelona. Luis Suarez and Neymar had a couple chances to get their team in the lead but goalkeeper, Geronimo Rulli, was in form today and could say was the man of the match for Real Sociedad. A couple cross ins by Lionel Messi saw Neymar and Suarez go against Rulli but as mentioned, Rulli was unstoppable and Barcelona could not get anything through him.
It took till the 51st min for Barcelona to get something on the scorebaord. Messi was able to cross it in inside the box and as Mikel Gonzales tried to clear it for Sociedad, it bounced of his head towards Neymar and Neymar was able to head it past Rulli to make it 1-0.
It was in the 85th min that we saw Barcelona make it 2-0. Suarez found Messi make a run inside the ball but went too wide for him. Messi recovered it and as he tried to find Suarez inside the box, the ball ricochet off a Real Sociedad defender and gave Pedro some air time. Pedro was able to do the unthinkable and as the ball was in the air, he turned his back towards the goal and bicycle kicked the ball into the net.
The game ended with Barcelona acquiring the three points and staying five points ahead of Real Madrid. They will be facing Bayern Munich on Tuesday for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final and with a 3-0 advantage already, hope to take it and head into the final. If all is cleared up in La Liga, Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid next Sunday night.
The man of the match goes out to Pedro, who was able to score a beautiful bicycle kick goal a couple of minutes after coming into the pitch.