Luis Suarez Scores Twice as Barcelona Come Back to Beat Real Sociedad

Luis Suarez scored twice for Barcelona as the league leaders recovered from going 2-0 down at Real Sociedad to win 4-2 and preserve their unbeaten start to the La Liga season.

The hosts started well, and goals from Willian Jose and Juanmi put them in command. However, Barca hit back through Paulinho before Suarez grabbed a double and Lionel Messi sealed the win in style with a stunning free-kick late on.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde sprang something of a surprise with his lineup as he left both Andres Iniesta and Ousmane Dembele on the bench. The club shared their team via the club's official Twitter account:

Meanwhile, Opta showed how Barcelona traditionally tend to struggle at Anoeta:

Barcelona started fairly brightly with Messi whipping a shot just over the bar, but it was Sociedad who took the lead after only 11 minutes.

Xabi Prieto whipped in a cross from the right, and Jose pulled off Paulinho at the far post and headed the ball into the ground where it flew past Marc-Andre ter Stegen and into the corner.

Jose then had the ball in the back of the net after his deflected shot beat Ter Stegen only to see it disallowed for a foul on Ivan Rakitic in the buildup.

Football writer Simon Harrison explained how Sociedad were having so much success against the league leaders:

The hosts did manage to double their lead shortly afterwards, as Sergio Canales crossed for Juanmi, who took a touch and then shot, his effort taking a deflection off Sergi Roberto and flying past Ter Stegen.

Barcelona looked stunned as Sociedad continued to dominate the first half but managed to pull one back with six minutes of normal time remaining in the first half.

Suarez made a great run down the left and then squared for Paulinho to slot home and halve the deficit.

Opta showed how it was Barca's first effort on target:

Barca then took just five minutes of the second half to haul themselves back on level terms with a spectacular effort from Suarez.

Roberto drove forwards before finding Messi, who teed up the Uruguayan just inside the box, and he chipped the ball first time over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Football writer Sid Lowe was impressed with the whole move:

As the rain started to pour down, Barcelona opted to make a change—sending on Dembele for Paulinho—and started to ramp up the pressure.

Their approach paid off with 20 minutes to go, as Suarez grabbed his second of the night after a poor clearance from goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Thomas Vermaelen headed the ball back towards the Sociedad goal, and Suarez latched on to it before firing past the goalkeeper.

Messi then made sure of the win with five minutes of normal time remaining as he floated a free-kick over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Rulli rooted to his line.

ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan said anything is now possible for this Barca team.

It's a hugely impressive victory for Barca, coming from two goals down on a ground where they traditionally struggle. Sociedad played well, but the visitors simply had too much quality as well as a real steely determination that has been instilled into the side by Valverde.