Sun Jan 18 20:20:00 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Real Sociedad Stuns Barcelona, Ending Winning Streak and Tightening La Liga Title Race
The Story:
Barcelona’s impressive winning streak, encompassing nine La Liga matches and eleven games across all competitions, was brought to an abrupt halt on Sunday, January 18, 2026, with a 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad at Anoeta. Despite a dominant first-half performance where they could have sealed the victory, a combination of factors, including poor finishing, unfavorable luck, and controversial refereeing decisions, conspired against the Blaugrana. The loss leaves them with a precarious one-point lead at the top of the league table.
Key Points:
- Barcelona’s nine-game La Liga winning streak ended.
- Their eleven-game winning streak in all competitions was also broken.
- Real Sociedad defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Anoeta.
- Poor finishing, bad luck, and controversial refereeing were cited as contributing factors to the defeat.
- Barcelona’s lead at the top of the La Liga table is now just one point.
- Raphinha was not included in the squad for the match.
- Frenkie de Jong returned to the starting lineup after suspension.
Key Takeaways:
- Barcelona’s vulnerability was exposed despite their recent run of form.
- The La Liga title race has tightened considerably due to this result.
- Refereeing decisions continue to be a point of contention in La Liga matches.
- The absence of Raphinha possibly impacted Barcelona’s attacking options.
- Frenkie de Jong’s return didn’t guarantee victory, highlighting the importance of team cohesion.
First Piper 