Barcelona Drop Points Again in Basque Country to Real Sociedad

It was hard to miss that sport utility vehicle parked on the Estadio Anoeta stadium track.

Glaringly white in color, it provided an interesting backdrop to the action throughout the game. All four goals in the match would be scored on its half.

Whatever its actual purpose, on Saturday it definitely proved symbolic. Barcelona, still smarting from their 2-1 defeat away to Sociedad at the tail end of last season, were hoping to firmly plant themselves in the La Liga driver's seat with a victory.

Once more, however, their trip to Basque country came up fruitless.

For two-thirds of the match, however, three points looked guaranteed.

After going up 2-0 within 12 minutes on goals from Xavi (10th) and Cesc Fabregas (11th), the Catalans were rampant in attack. Their trademark tiki-taka possession passing game was flowing with that unparalleled fluidity only they seem able to conjure on a consistent basis.

For the first 60 minutes of the match, they played like the best team in the world: cool, calm and most importantly—confident.

No Messi (who was recuperating from a busy week of travel with the Argentinian national team), no problem, it seemed.

Yet out of nothing, Sociedad came firing back at the turn of the third stage of the match.

Successive goals from Imanol Agirretxe and Antoine Griezmann in the 59th and 62nd minutes injected life back into the Basque side (who entered the match in fourth-place in the Spanish standings.)

Griezmann had earned plaudits for his play at the U-20 World Cup this past summer, when he pulled the strings for France like a master puppeteer.

His goal against Barcelona was pure opportunistic intrepidity, a hallmark of youthful exuberance.

A bizarre forty-yard back pass floated by David Villa ended up scything through the heart of the Barcelona defense.

Agirretxe couldn't believe his luck as he collected the gift and found himself one-on-one with keeper Victor Valdes. A quick cut to the right had him in on goal, with only a rapidly retreating Sergio Busquets in the way of a brace.

Agirretxe elected for a lofted chip that appeared goal-bound, only for Busquets to nod the ball onto the crossbar, bouncing back in front of goal.

Television replays would later show that the defensive midfielder had indeed handed the ball, attempting to pass the move off—as if in some rash homage to Maradona 25 years ago—as a header. It mattered little, though, as Griezmann fought through to head home the rebound.

2-2. Barcelona may have been shocked, but they certainly didn't show it, electing to continue with their vintage passing-predicated play.

Messi and Andres Iniesta would both be introduced as substitutes, as coach Pep Guardiola looked to gain back the three points that had seemed a foregone conclusion.

Barca would indeed threaten, aided by those two superstars' unparalleled guile, but it was the host side that would find the best chances in front of goal, launching a sudden onslaught in stoppage time. Three clear-cut looks at goal wouldn't result in a winner, but a message had been delivered. Barca were lucky to have held onto a tie.

It was the latest testament of the thorn Basque country has thrust in Barcelona's side these past two seasons. After today's result, Sociedad bumped up to second-place in the La Liga standings—behind Barcelona, who maintained their standing on top perch.

Barcelona were certainly below-strength, but that is no excuse. Points are at a premium this season, with Real Madrid looking certain to make a full-frontal assault on the league title.

It's still early, however. They may not have left with that opaque vehicle, but there is still plenty of time for the league champions to shift into top gear.