Neymar scored the only goal of the game as Barcelona earned a 1-0 first-leg lead over Real Sociedad in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
The Brazilian scored from the spot 21 minutes in after being brought down by Aritz Elustondo - a rare talking point in a much devoid of too much entertainment.
Neymar was also responsible for the only other shot on target all evening, as he tested Geronimo Rulli with a tame attempt down the middle shortly before his decisive breakthrough goal.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded at the Estadio Anoeta with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg tie between Real Sociedad and Barcelona at the Estadio Anoeta. This is a ground that tonight's visitors have struggled at like no other on the continent over the past decade, failing to pick up a single win stretching back to 2007. Despite that quirk, Barca remain the favourites to come out on top over the two legs and progress through to yet another semi-final.
Barcelona are one of three real heavyweight sides left in the competition, along with Madrid's Atletico and Real. The first of those are currently in action against Eibar, with a one-goal lead a little over midway through the game thanks to another Antoine Griezmann effort. La Liga pacesetters Real fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Celta Vigo last night, meanwhile, meaning that they have it all to do in next week's reverse tie if they are to advance.
TEAM NEWS!
REAL SOCIEDAD XI: Rulli, Illarra, Inino Martinez, Prieto, Vela, Willian Jose, Aritz, Zurutuza, Oyarzabal, Yuri, Navas
BARCELONA XI: Cillessen, Sergi Roberto, Umtiti, Pique, Digne, Rakitic, Sergio, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Neymar
Starting with a look at the visiting team, manager Luis Enrique has brought Neymar back into the forward triumvirate alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. There was a debate over just how strong the starting lineup would be tonight, but the inclusion of those three from the off suggests that this match takes priority over the Eibar trip at the weekend. The other big news is that Ivan Rakitic starts in midfield; a player who has been in-and-out of the side in recent weeks and heavily linked with a move away.
Rakitic starts alongside another returning face in Andres Iniesta, while Sergio Busquets retain his place in what is a three-man midfield. There is perhaps a little surprise at right-back, as Lucas Digne comes in for Jordi Alba, and on the other flank Sergi Roberto is now back up-and-running. It is a central-defensive pairing of Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique this evening, meanwhile, with the latter the third of the rested trio to come back in.
Last but not least, Jasper Cillessen is selected in goal due to the absence of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with Masip - a starter in the first leg of the Athletic Bilbao tie - having to settle for a place on the bench. Rafinha Alcantara was handed a chance to impress in the 5-0 win over Las Palmas at the weekend and duly took it, but a hamstring injury has ruled him out of this match. Ter Stegen was also left in Catalonia, as were Aleix Vidal and Jeremy Mathieu.
In terms of the home side, boss Eusebio Sacristan - a former Barcelona player and coach, of course - has been handed a big boost with the return to fitness of Carlos Vela. The ex-Arsenal starlet was expected to sit this match out with a knee injury, but he has clearly shaken that off as he is among the starters tonight. Elustondo does not make the cut, however, while Mikel Gonzalez and Markel Bergara are two others to miss out.
Sociedad will go with a three-man forward line as they look to match Barca, and they have some serious threats in their attacking ranks, too, as Vela will partner the lively Willian Jose and Oyarzabal; the latter of whom will likely start out towards the left flank and work his way in. Sacristan has had to rejig things at the back because of injury problems, but you would still fancy this Royals side to trouble their opponents' backline.
BENCH WATCH!
REAL SOCIEDAD SUBS: Ramirez, Juanmi, Granero, Canales, Hernandez, Gaztanaga, Concha
BARCELONA SUBS: Masip, D. Suarez, Arda Turan, Mascherano, Alcacer, Alba, Andre Gomes
Juanmi has shown some good form for the hosts in recent weeks, scoring six goals in his last nine outings overall, but he has to settle for a place among the subs this evening. Arda Turan, another player to have been linked with the Camp Nou exit in recent days, is on the Barca bench, as is Paco Alcacer who will feel a little aggrieved not to have been given his chance in the cup. Cannot really complain when Messi, Suarez and Neymar are the manager's other options, though...
Neymar, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique were all left out for the 5-0 win over Las Palmas last weekend, but each of those star names are back in this strong-looking Barcelona XI this evening. Real Sociedad have had a few injury issues to contend with, meanwhile, although they do have Carlo Tevez among their starters despite the former Arsenal man being given only a slim hope of featuring due to a knee injury.
Two-time winners of this competition Sociedad will be well up for tonight's game following an impressive campaign to date. The Royals, whose last success in the Copa del Rey came exactly 30 years ago, may lack the proven pedigree of Barcelona but they will fancy their chances of taking an advantage into the Camp Nou next week if their recent history in this fixture is anything to go by. A draw may not be enough - a win probably won't be, either - just ask Bilbao! - but who knows what will happen over these next 180 minutes or more.
Sociedad's last appearance in the final of this Spanish domestic cup was also just short of three decades ago, so it is fair to say that any sort of success has been a long time coming. Barcelona, on the other hand, have lifted the cup a record 28 times - five more than next-best Bilbao, who they overcame en route to the quarter-finals. That was a very tight game for Enrique's men and, having covered the first leg of that one, I fancied the underdogs to pull off a big upset when the reverse fixture was played the following week.
DID YOU KNOW? Barcelona have won the cup a record 28 times, then, but no team in the modern era has managed to pull off a 'three-peat' - winning the cup three times in a row. The last side to do so, it will not surprise you to hear, was indeed the Catalan giants, who achieved that impressive feat between 1951-53. Having overcome Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla in the last two finals, they now have a great chance of creating some modern-day history. Just three more hurdles to go!
Sociedad with it all to do, it is fair to say, but they are certainly no pushovers themselves as they currently find themselves fifth in the Spanish top flight, just two points adrift of Atletico Madrid in the final Champions League berth. That may well be the target if recent results are anything to go by - a heavy loss to Sevilla aside - with the backdoor route into the Europa League that winning this competition provides very much a consolation prize at this stage.
Barcelona are only six points better off that the White and Blue, in fact, showing that there is not quite the gulf between the sides that many outsiders would perhaps expect. Sociedad have won three of their last four games in La Liga, with that thrashing at the hands of Sevilla proving to be a mere blip as they were back to winning ways last time out when seeing off Malaga 2-0. Sacristan's charges have scored 30 goals in all - a respectable tally but still 17 fewer than Barca - with Willian Jose (7) top scoring.
Their defensive stats are not quite as impressive, though, having also been heavily beaten by Deportivo La Coruna a little over a month ago. The Royals do have a nice run of fixtures ahead on the whole, with Real Madrid the only big hitters over the next eight games, but there is also a meeting with Celta Vigo to come at the weekend. That is a big match for La Real, as they look to put some further distance between themselves and the chasing pack for a top-six finish.
La Real have suffered two defeats in 15 overall, meanwhile, in a run that includes two-legged triumphs over Real Valladolid and Villarreal in this competition; the latter a comfortable 4-1 aggregate win at the last-16 stage. This is a bigger task altogether, however, as Sacristan and his players aim to overcome the side now considered favourites to make it three Copa del Rey successes in a row. The path may well be made all the more clearer if Real Madrid fail to overturn their first-leg deficit against Celta Vigo.
Barcelona, despite the recent mid-season wobble, remain on course for the second treble of Luis Enrique's three-year tenure. The Catalan giants appear to be back on track thanks to successive wins, having stuttered to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bilbao in this competition to kick off their year - very much their nadir, with a real poor display produced at San Mames. They did of course get the job done in the return match, but only after being held by Villarreal in La Liga.
Barca also had to recover to beat Hercules in the round prior, albeit with a far weaker side in the first leg. While Enrique's charges were throwing away points for fun, rivals Real Madrid were en route to setting a new Spanish record for games unbeaten in all competitions. That run finally came to a halt earlier this week with defeat at the hands of a spirited Sevilla side - who Los Blancos knocked out of this cup just days prior - and it was two defeats from two last night when Celta Vigo prevailed.
Eusebio Sacristan, pictured here with Rafael Benitez last season, has guided Real Sociedad into contention for a shock Champions League finish this term. Just two points stand between La Real and the top four, while the behemoth that is Barcelona are just six points better off. Two defeats in 15 overall and three wins from four in La Liga has them in a good position to push on, but this is one almighty challenge if they are to progress in the Copa del Rey.
Back to Real, and the wheels could well be falling off for Zinedine Zidane's side as the business end of the season fast approaches. That said, they still hold a two-point lead over Barcelona at the summit with a game in hand to play, and you would fancy them to overturn their one-goal deficit at Celta next week. It is very much down to Barcelona to themselves find a run of momentum, then, which has been hard to come by in recent months; just once have they won back-to-back league games since November.
This double-header against Real Sociedad - a tie that Enrique would have been happy with, having dodged Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid - sandwiches the La Liga match against Eibar at the weekend. That is one Barcelona cannot really afford to leave too many players out for, with their opponents also doing well inside the top half of the division, but you would expect one of Messi, Iniesta or Neymar to again drop out along with a couple of the older players. It is a fine balancing act, but we are now into the serious stuff as far as the Copa del Rey is concerned.
Enrique does not face off against one of his fellow heavyweight managers for over a month now in the league, but there is the small matter of a huge Champions League showdown with Unai Emery's Paris Saint-Germain in February - what a match that should be, even if it has been played out over and over again in recent years. That is very much for then, though, with attention now on this tricky test of another sort against Real Sociedad. Only Sevilla and Real Madrid have left here with victory this term, highlighting just how tough a night it could be for the visitors.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Barcelona have failed to win in San Sebastian since 2007 in what is one of the strangest quirks in all of European football - how does a side as talented as Barca's, which has produced world-class squad after world-class squad, fail to see off a so-called second-rate team? That run stretches back eight games, during which the Catalans have suffered five defeats and draw the other three; the most recent being a 1-1 draw here at the end of November when Messi cancelled out Willian Jose's penalty just before the hour mark.
With kickoff in the Basque Country now exactly 10 minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Luis Enrique: "Against Sociedad we have had games in which they have been the better side, we want to change that image. We always go into matches with the objective of winning, to be better than our opponents and create more over 90 minutes, regardless of whether there is a second leg. Nothing changes in the way we prepare for a game because it is always the same - regardless of whether we have to play a second leg or not."
Xabi Prieto: "Having 52 hours less rest than them obviously hurts us, and our bodies will definitely feel that. The difference isn't just one day, but more than two, but we'll try to overcome our fatigue with Estadio Anoeta's support. On my block, some won't be able to do both, which is a shame. We have great memories of recent matches against Barcelona at Estadio Anoeta, and we're hoping for one more."
"Nothing changes", says Enrique, when asked about how the mindset can change when you know defeat will not necessarily prove costly in the first leg of a double-header. It is a fair question to ask, as Barcelona were held by Hercules and defeated by Athletic Bilbao in the opening 90 minutes of their two outings in this competition to date. Both times they produced an improved performance in the second leg; both times they found their name in the hat for the next round.
Prieto raises a point that I have yet to touch on, meanwhile - Barcelona have had 52 hours more rest than their opponents due to the scheduling of La Liga fixtures. Sociedad were asked to play on Monday evening, while Barca had a Saturday afternoon slot when brushing aside Las Palmas. Does it matter all that much? Probably. This match also coincides with the local city festival, La Tamoborrada, with many supporters prioritising that over this cup match.
Both teams have now made their way into the tunnel area, with kickoff at Estadio Anoeta - a graveyard of a stadium for Barcelona over the past decade - now just a few minutes away. Three changes made by Eusebio Sacristan from the 2-0 win over Malaga on Monday night, while the visitors make a number of alterations as they revert to what is something close to their strongest available side.
Real Madrid slipped up against Celta Vigo in their quarter-final first-leg tie, but Atletico Madrid have comfortably beaten Eibar 3-0 at the Vicente Calderon this evening in the early kickoff. You would fancy Barcelona to tee up a nice lead for the return match at Camp Nou next week but, as touched upon numerous times already, they have failed to win here since 2007 - eight matches in all; five defeats and three draws. Time to see if they can end that hoodoo.
KICKOFF! Willian Jose goes down inside the box early on and is aggrieved when the referee tells him to get up, which replays show was the correct call. The hosts enjoying plenty of the ball in these opening stages here.
This is the sixth time in four weeks Barcelona have played in the Basque region, incidentally, so they are certainly getting accustomed to this part of Northern Spain. Cold conditions this evening, as Suarez sees a shot blocked into Rulli's hands.
Promising attacking move from the hosts, who look particularly lively when Willian Jose is involved. Already a penalty shout for him and a deflected shot for Suarez at the other end - an entertaining start to the match on the whole.
La Real going with a high press, which we also saw to good effect from Athletic Bilbao in the last round. It worked a treat in the first leg as the Catalan club struggled to find their groove, but already the visitors have found a few gaps today.
Neymar in some space inside the box but Messi cannot control the ball when picked out. Barcelona looking brighter than they did at San Mames already, with Lionel Messi now dropping deep into the opposition half to link up play.
SHOT! Umtiti under a huge amount of pressure as he drifts out to the left, and the high pressing tells as the hosts win back possession. The Frenchman plays the ball straight to Oiarzabal, who can only blast high over the crossbar, while up the other end Neymar's tame shot is blocked by Rulli.
All very patient from Barca at the moment, and they are now being allowed to work their way forward a little more. La Real only seem to press up high when their opponents' backline are in possession, particularly the shaky Umtiti.
The match has calmed down a little over the past few minutes. Suarez had a deflected shot caught by Rulli and Neymar sent a weak attempt down the middle, while up the other end Oiarzabal was unable to make the most of a slack Umtiti pass.
The visitors have seen three-quarters of the ball in the opening 17 minutes of the match, but they have yet to create any real openings. Neymar did pick out Messi inside the area but a rare bad touch from a crowded out Messi cost him the chance to shoot.
PENALTY TO BARCELONA! The visitors have a big chance to take the lead in this tie, having been awarded a penalty. Neymar with a nice bit of trickery inside the box, which forces Elustondo to bring him down.
GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 0-1 BARCELONA (NEYMAR, PENALTY)
An unselfish act from Messi as he allows Neymar to take the penalty that the Brazilian won through his own work. Neymar sends Rulli the wrong way and the visitors have a crucial breakthrough goal in this two-legged tie.
Illarramendi wipes out Lionel Messi with a cynical lunge close to the sideline. That is only half of it, though, as Zurutuza kicked the ball into his opponent's back while he was grounded. Fair to say Messi was unhappy about that one!
Illarramendi goes in for a challenge which ends with the ball ricocheting off his boot and flying down the other end for Cillessen to easily collect. The Royals must show plenty of grit between now and half time, with Barca looking to build some momentum.
Barcelona hit their opponents on the counter, and in the end they had too much options. Neymar neither pulled the ball back for Messi nor Suarez, instead putting it between the two of them for the home side to quickly regroup.
Vela looks to burst through the middle but instead lays it off to young full-back Elustondo - guilty for giving away that pen on Neymar - but his subsequent cross into the box is a shocker; well overhit and straight out for a goal-kick.
La Real give away possession cheaply in midfield but then Rakitic fails to do anything with it, himself being quickly closed down. Turning into a real battle in the middle of the park at the moment, with neither side able to keep a hold of the ball.
This match started in a fairly breathless manner, but it has been very scrappy since. No real action of any note since Neymar blasted Barca ahead from the spot around 13 minutes or so ago at Estadio Anoeta - a venue that the visitors have grown to hate in recent times.
Sacristan will not be too happy with what he has seen from his side so far. They looked very good against Malaga a few days back, although in its own way that could be their downfall - far less preparation time than their opponents.
Barca have not been much better than Sociedad, in fairness, but they are the side that look likely to take a one-goal lead into the interval. Still just the two shots on target so far, both coming from the boot of Neymar.
SHOT! Much better from the hosts, as Willian Jose holds up the ball with his back to goal and lays it off for Illarramendi, who sends a deflected shot narrowly wide of the target. Barca defend it well enough and can now regroup.
Suarez frustrated after laying the ball inside for Roberto, who was clearly not on the same wavelength and was unable to get on to it. Sociedad ending the half on top, but they are struggling to test cup keeper Cillessen between the sticks.
YELLOW CARD! Tut tut, Lionel. The Argentinian maestro is pulled back and is rightly awarded a free kick, but he is in the referee's face gesturing for a yellow card. Messi is then booked for, incredibly enough, time wasting - a free kick gone wrong to blame for that one.
HALF TIME: REAL SOCIEDAD 0-1 BARCELONA
A stop-start half of football on the whole, which Barcelona just about got the better of to take a slender one-goal lead into the interval. The opening 45 minutes started in a fairly enthralling manner; both teams looking to get forward but ultimately struggling to create any chances.
Less than a minute of the match had lapsed before Willian Jose went down in the box calling for a penalty, which the referee correctly waved away following appeals from some home players. Neymar was brought back into Barca's starting ranks this evening as part of seven changes, as Luis Enrique reverted to a stronger XI to the side that saw off Las Palmas, but the Catalans' forward trio were struggling to truly click into gear up top.
La Real were looking to utilise a high press when their opponents were on the ball in their own final third, and that worked to perfection when the shaky Samuel Umtiti was put under a little pressure. The Frenchman succeeded only in passing the ball straight to Mikel Oyarzabal, who could only send his subsequent shot high over Jasper Cillessen's crossbar. The complexion of the match changed 19 minutes in, however, as young full-back Aritz Elustondo clipped Neymar following some trickery from the Brazilian to concede a penalty.
Neymar scored his second goal in the competition this season from the spot, sending Geronimo Rulli the wrong way after being handed penalty duties by a selfless Lionel Messi. It would prove to be a stop-start affair for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes, but Sociedad - whose last success in this competition came exactly 30 years ago - ended the half the better and created half an opening for Asier Illarramendi to send over the target from range.
I mentioned pre-match the good run of form Juanmi has been on of late, scoring six goals in his last nine overall, so could we perhaps see him at the break? Both managers are likely to wait until the hour mark, injuries permitting, but here is a reminder of the options available to both at this midway stage.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUBS: Ramirez, Juanmi, Granero, Canales, Hernandez, Gaztanaga, Concha
BARCELONA SUBS: Masip, D. Suarez, Arda Turan, Mascherano, Alcacer, Alba, Andre Gomes
RESTART! We are back up and running at Estadio Anoeta, where there is news of a half-time change to bring you. Andre Gomes is on in place of Andres Iniesta, who may have picked up a knock of some sort during the opening 45 minutes.
Half a chance for Oyarzabal had he been able to adjust his body, as a clipped free kick is allowed to simply run right through to Cillessen. Oyarzabal is playing on the left of a three-man attacking midfield, with Willian Jose leading the line.
CHANCE! Navas goes in on Suarez and leaves his opponent down in a heap on the ground. From the free kick Neymar was through on goal, but a heavy touch ultimately cost him a chance of testing Rulli in a one-on-one position.
Iniesta was indeed taken off because of a minor knock picked up in the first half. Chance for Andre Gomes - one of four summer signings now on the pitch - to impress, but Barca still not able to reach their top levels thus far.
La Real call for handball when it appeared to pop up and hit Digne, but you have to say the officials again got that call correct - no chance could the full-back have been penalised for that. Still just that one Neymar chance to show for this half's attacking play.
SHOT! A sign that Barcelona are finally starting to click into gear in attack. Messi back-heels the ball into the path of Neymar, who runs at the static Sociedad defence and curls a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Home fans are furious as Messi gets in the way of a quick free kick. Obstruction is technically a yellow card offence, and thus a red in Messi's case, but the referee felt that the Sociedad player deliberately hit it into the Barca man.
Zurutuza is one of four Sociedad players to beat the Barcelona line when a free kick was floated into the box. He was flagged for offside - a shocking call - but a disastrous first touch cost him a shot at goal anyway. The hosts stepping things up now!
Navas with a no-look back-pass to Rulli, who was happy to concede a corner and not a second goal. This match has livened up over the past few minutes but still shots on target are proving to be a rare commodity for both teams at Estadio Anoeta.
A good, positive move from the hosts ends with Berchiche playing the ball into that danger zone between defence and keeper. None of his teammate capitalised and it went straight out for a goal kick. All happening now at both ends of the field!
PENALTY APPEAL! I have praised the officials a few times tonight but, between them, they have got this one wrong. Neymar is clipped by the arms of Rulli, but no penalty is awarded. The Brazilian did go to ground far too easily, though it should have been a pen and not a yellow for simulation.
Willian Jose is picked out just inside the box in a little space, but the ball bobbles and the Sociedad forward is left with his head in his hands. Barcelona just 20 minutes or so away from a first win here in four months short of 10 years.
BARCELONA SUB! Ivan Rakitic's evening has come to an end, with Denis Suarez on in his place. One change left available for Enrique to make, while opposite number Sacristan still has all three available to him.
Sociedad, who have lost just twice here all season, have still yet to register an attempt on target. Barcelona have had two, but they have also had a few near-misses and are deserved leaders in this match as we enter the final quarter.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUB! Juanmi is on in place of Carlos Vela for the final 15 minutes of the match. Surprised we did not see him a little earlier, but there is still plenty of time to make an impact in this Copa del Rey quarter-final.
Plenty of attacking intent on show but a frustrating lack of ability in the final third for the hosts. This game has not yet truly settled, with 76 minutes on the clock, but it is looking as though the hosts will pick up that elusive win.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUB! Xabi Prieto is off and Sergio Canales is on in his place. A second roll of the dice from Sacristan, with things becoming more and more desperate now. Needing a win at Camp Nou is close to the impossible task.
CLOSE! A bit of a lull in proceedings now, as Barcelona look to take the sting out of things and perhaps steal a second goal - surely enough to see them through. A free kick is won 25 yards out, which Messi sends inches over the bar.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUB! A third and final change for the hosts; Concha on for Willian Jose. Juanmi will now likely shuffle into that centre-forward role, with eight minutes of the first leg left to play. Time fast running out.
It has been the scrappiest of games you will likely see in the competition all year; two shots on target in all, one of which was that Neymar penalty 21 minutes in. Job done as far as Barca are concerned, but an opportunity missed for their opponents.
Near enough as good as things have got for Barca since their opener. Messi and Neymar work a free kick well, with the latter being slipped in down the left, and his cross is into a good position. Two shots are well blocked in front of goal, though.
Sociedad win themselves a free kick in a good crossing position out on the left, which Illarramendi could only nod wide from a good position. Pretty much sums things up as far as the home side are concerned, as they await their first on-target attempt.
Three minutes of added time to play at Estadio Anoeta; three minutes for Barca to hold on to end this decade-long curse. Messi barges his opponent off the ball and is a tad lucky to escape seeing a second yellow of the evening.
Barcelona have been far more comfortable in this second half than they should have been, with Sociedad unable to sustain any sort of pressure. The full-time whistle is now just 60 seconds or so away in the Basque Country.
FULL TIME: REAL SOCIEDAD 0-1 BARCELONA
The full-time whistle is blown, meaning an end to the Anoeta curse at long, long last for Barcelona. It was an extremely scrappy affair, with just the two shots on target all evening - one of them being that decisive Neymar penalty 21 minutes in. Job done in the end of the visitors, while Real Sociedad must now pick up a win at Camp Nou seven days from now.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from this Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg tie. An on-the-whistle report from San Sebastian can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us at the weekend for more Spanish football action. See you then!
