Real Sociedad 1 Barcelona 1: Lionel Messi cancels out Willian Jose’s strike as Barca go ten years without win at Anoeta
Barcelona fail to secure first win at Real Sociedad since 2007 as linesman robs home side of victory
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REAL SOCIEDAD made it ten years undefeated at home to Barcelona with a 1-1 draw.
Lionel Messi got his name on the scoresheet but it wasn't enough to prevent Barca falling six points behind leaders Real Madrid ahead of El Clasico.
At times it was the team in blue and white who looked like they were Barcelona as Real Sociedad beautifully zipped the ball around the turf in Northern Spain.
The real Barca struggled to impose their style on the Basques as they misplaced passes and incredibly had less possession than their opponents.
They were under the cosh in the first half, but the home side failed to press home their advantage as the teams went into the break at 0-0.
But Real Sociedad did find the breakthrough on 53 minutes when former Arsenal man Carlos Vela was played through on goal.
The Mexican had his shot saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen but Willian Jose headed home the rebound.
However Messi came up with a reply almost immediately. On 54 minutes he latched on to Neymar's pass to sidefoot into the bottom corner.
Then with fifteen minutes left came a moment of high controversy.
Vela's shot came off the crossbar and the ball was adjudged not to have crossed the line when it bounced down.
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Juanmi followed up to tap the ball in but was incorrectly flagged offside.
And Vela had another chance to have the final word in the latter stages as his sidefoot shot from just outside the box cannoned off the post.