Stats tell the tale: Remiro, woodwork, and Gil Manzano combine to halt 11-match winning run of FC Barcelona | OneFootball

It needed a collective effort to stop the winning run FC Barcelona were on, and that is exactly what it took at the Reale Arena, as Real Sociedad beat the Catalan club 2-1 through a combination of factors on the night.

The numbers paint a clear picture of how much Barcelona dominated. As revealed by Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick’s side registered 25 shots across the game, 11 of which were on target.

Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro was incredible, producing some outstanding saves. Aside from Marcus Rashford’s strike, which he could do nothing about, the Spaniard made eight saves on the night, preventing an estimated 1.4 goals, according to SofaScore.

This included six saves from inside the box and one punch. Beyond the efforts on target, Barcelona also hit the woodwork a remarkable five times, with Olmo twice, and Kounde, Rashford, and Lewandowski all denied by the frame of the goal.

Hansi Flick’s team also had three goals ruled out, including one by Lamine Yamal. This is where Gil Manzano’s involvement comes in. The teenager’s goal was controversially chalked off for offside, but the replays suggested that it was not the case.

Barcelona produced an xG of 3.68 to Real Sociedad’s 1.01, yet scored only one goal to the hosts’ two. They also restricted the home side to just seven shots, yet still left all three points on the table.

Sometimes in football, the numbers do not tell the full story, just as they will not with Lamine Yamal’s stupendous performance. Even so, nothing encapsulated Barcelona’s dominance on the night better than these figures.

On any other night, Hansi Flick would have seen his team score at least five or six with the chances they created and leave the Reale Arena with a comfortable win, but the combination of factors proved too much for Barcelona.

That said, Flick and his players do not have time to lick their wounds, as the schedule is unforgiving. They now have a Champions League encounter against Slavia Praha, and it remains to be seen whether Barcelona can return to winning ways sooner rather than later.