Real: Claudio Bravo; Estrada, Iñigo
Martínez, Demidov, De la Bella; Illarramendi, McDonald Mariga (Aranburu
80'); Xabi Prieto (Cadamuro 69'), Zurutuza, Griezmann; Agirretxe (Carlos Vela
80'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés;
Dani Alves, Busquets, Fontàs (Iniesta 80'), Adriano; Thiago (Messi 62'),
Xavi, Keita; Pedro, Alexis (David Villa 32'), Fábregas. 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 10. Xavi. Turned shot past Claudio Bravo after
Alexis laid ball across.
0-2. 11. Fàbregas. Following up after
keeper blocked shot from Pedro.
1-2. 59. Agirretxe. Steered header past
Valdés from Xavi Prieto cross.
2-2. 61. Griezmann. Header in to
empty net after Agirretxe shot hit bar.
Yellow cards: Zurutuza 67', Cadamuro 81', Messi 92'.
The first surprise of the season in Anoeta, where league champions Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw by Real Sociedad. Despite leaving the likes of Messi, Villa and Iniesta on the bench, Guardiola's side appeared to be cruising when Xavi and Fàbregas put them two up in the first ten minutes, both after quick passing moves. But they failed to take advantage of several chances before the break, and early in the second half Agirretxe got on the end of Xabi Alonso's cross to head one back. Worse was to come though, as two minutes later Agirretxe picked up a dreadful Villa back pass and headed for goal. Out of the referee's sight, Busquets pushed the striker's shot on to the bar with his hand, but Griezmann ran in to head the rebound in to the empty net. After that Guardiola turned to Iniesta and Messi, but even they couldn't make the difference, and the Basque side almost scored a comic third when they returned the ball to Valdés after the ball had been put out of play to attend an injury, the keeper with his back to the play not realising until the last second. A poor result for Barça prior to their Champions League opener, and to make matters worse a first half hamstring injury to Alexis is likely to keep him out for up to two months.