How Can Barcelona Overcome Their Troubles at Anoeta Against Real Sociedad?
Real Sociedad are a much stronger team than the side that beat Barcelona while David Moyes was in charge, on January 4, 2015.
They are stronger still than the team that beat the Catalans again earlier this year, in April.
For the first time in a long time, there is not only spirit and fire in abundance in San Sebastian but substance, too.
And that spells bad news for Barcelona, who have not won away there since 2007, when Frank Rijkaard was in charge and his team earned a 2-0 victory.
These are the games between that have taken place since then at Anoeta, with Real Sociedad returning after relegation to the top flight in 2010:
09/14/16: Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona
04/01/15: Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona
22/02/14: Real Sociedad 3-1 Barcelona
12/02/14: Real Sociedad 1-1 Barcelona (Copa del Rey)
19/01/13: Real Sociedad 3-2 Barcelona
10/09/11: Real Sociedad 2-2 Barcelona
30/04/11: Real Sociedad 2-1 Barcelona
A string of bad results like that begs two questions ahead of Sunday night's clash: Why have Barcelona performed so badly there? And how can they avoid another stumble?
One unavoidable problem is that the Basques like to raise their game when Barcelona come calling.
"Personally I think there are three away trips where coaches should not rotate, San Sebastian, Bilbao and Pamplona," journalist Mikel Recalde said, per Sport.
"Because they are teams rooted in their cities and their people, and when they hosts the big sides, they grow. They create an atmosphere which is very special."
However, Spanish football expert David Cartlidge spoke to Bleacher Report ahead of the clash and feels it is less the atmosphere and more the increased determination of the hosts that affects the games.
He said: "It's interesting as Anoeta isn't a particularly fierce stadium. Barcelona will face a lot more vociferous crowds across the course of a season. But primarily it's because a talented squad raises its level when Barca come to town.
"It's an opportunity to showcase their talent, and they can play at a higher level. Much to the chagrin of their own supporters, however, La Real in the past haven't turned up against smaller teams. It might be the classic case of knowing the whole world is watching on in a big televised game."
Sport's Javier Giraldo nailed many of the key factors in previous bad performances at Anoeta.
They vary from the game arriving at tricky times on the calendar—for example, between two Champions League semi-final clashes against Real Madrid in 2010-11 or Atletico Madrid in 2015—to Barcelona often heading to Anoeta while leading La Liga at a canter, which means their motivation and need to win suffers.
He also pointed out how La Real are experts in coming from behind and how their meek performances at Camp Nou perhaps allow Barcelona players to feel a false sense of security for the games at Anoeta.
The opposite may have been true last season, when Luis Enrique knew the threat posed but couldn't get his team to fire—perhaps they were too conscious of the game being a potential banana skin and it stopped them playing with freedom.
Notably, as Giraldo acknowledged, various Barcelona managers have mistakenly chosen this game to rotate players.
In January 2015, Luis Enrique started with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Dani Alves on the bench, and the subsequent 1-0 defeat nearly saw him removed—in the end, Andoni Zubizarreta was the scapegoat who walked.
So the first conclusions to draw would be for Luis Enrique to play his strongest team, or as much of it as he can, with captain Andres Iniesta a guaranteed absence and Gerard Pique a possible one.
Sport reported he took a knock against Celtic and missed training on Friday, so is a doubt for the game.
With a Copa del Rey game against Hercules in midweek, the coach can rest his star players in that and have his best XI fit again to face Real Madrid in the Clasico on December 3.
Barcelona won't have to worry about motivation either, because they go into this game four points behind leaders Real Madrid at least—and potentially seven should they beat Sporting Gijon on Saturday as expected.
Arriving back after a draining midweek trip against Celtic is not ideal preparation, but Luis Enrique will be pleased with the way his team dealt with the Scots and expect a similar level from Barcelona on Sunday.
The Basque Country is often wet and windy, but after playing in negative temperatures in Glasgow, it won't feel quite so cold for Barcelona.
Former Barcelona B coach Eusebio has his Real Sociedad team playing well, though, fifth in the table with five wins from their last six league games.
Asked how he thought La Real had improved since Moyes was fired, Cartlidge told Bleacher Report: "I think primarily it's a motivational issue, the players are enjoying their football again. We've seen at Real Madrid the value of a happy squad, with Zinedine Zidane lifting the Rafael Benitez gloom to great success.
"Eusebio has done the same with Real Sociedad. In turn, he's created a system that suits the players in terms of being more positive and attacking.
"Communication is a factor, too, as Moyes didn't do so well on that front. Eusebio's values are clear and the players are on board with them."
The coach is clearly happy with how things are going too, per Sport, noting "this group [of players] feels very comfortable with the [style of] play that we are making."
That is clear in the case of Carlos Vela, who is visibly far happier than he has appeared at times and is enjoying his football once again.
The Mexican is an important player, but at times in the past few seasons, he hasn't seemed interested—right now, he and the team are flying.
Asier Illarramendi is also a vital presence in midfield, something no one has been able to say about him for years.
With this in mind, how can Barcelona overcome what is proving to be their bogey team, or at least bogey ground?
Cartlidge said: "The only way for Barcelona to overcome their problems at Anoeta is character, character and more character. Luis Enrique's instilled plenty of it down the years, and I think at Sevilla [where Barcelona came to win 2-1 from behind despite being viciously outplayed in the first half], we saw it still runs through the team.
"In adversity this Barca are an outstanding prospect. They can take blows to the chin but still fight on through further rounds. They'll need that at Anoeta. Quality is also required, but this one might not be about winning pretty. Perseverance, toughness... a good old-fashioned bit of grit.
"They need to watch out for Illarramendi, who is in his best form since prior to the Real Madrid move. David Zurutuza is Mr Reliable, always produces an 8/10 performance. Mikel Oyarzabal is a youngster ready to explode on the scene and will be out to grab some limelight—he's their new Griezmann."
It was Oyarzabal who scored the winner last time these sides met in San Sebastian, with a brilliant header, although goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli's spectacular saves were just as vital at the other end.
Striker Willian Jose is the third component of the front line, behind Oyarzabal and Vela, who will be aiming to make Barcelona's life a misery.
They don't have the glitz and quality of Barcelona's MSN trident, but then nobody does—and Real Sociedad's attackers are more than good enough to give Barcelona's defence a run for their money, particularly if Pique is out.
Messi showed against Celtic that he can unlock the toughest of defences and will certainly need to be at a similar level to help his team at Anoeta. But beyond the Argentine, Barcelona's players have to walk out on to the pitch and believe they can win.
To really want it, more than they have for nearly a decade.
Rik Sharma is Bleacher Report's lead Barcelona correspondent. All information and quotes obtained firsthand unless specified. Follow him on Twitter here: @riksharma_.
.jpg?w=600 "Shedeur not currently in line for Browns QB1")
.jpg?w=600 "Ranking Every NFL Defense After 2026 Draft 📊")
