SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 7 hrs 3 mins
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BL
La Liga
May 20, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
RS

1-0

Coutinho (57')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad - as it happened: ID:326404: from db_amp
Relive Barcelona's 1-0 win over Real Sociedad as Philippe Coutinho scores the only goal of the game and Andres Iniesta makes his final appearance for the club.

Andres Iniesta's final match in a Barcelona shirt ended in victory this evening as the champions signed off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou.

Philippe Coutinho scored the only goal of the game with a stunning second-half strike, cutting inside before curling an unstoppable effort in off the far post.

It was a goal worthy of stealing the headlines on any other occasion, but those belonged to Iniesta on the night and the legendary midfielder was given a standing ovation when he was taken off in the 82nd minute.

Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's coverage below.

Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as champions Barcelona host Real Sociedad in the final game of the La Liga season!

Tonight will be all about Andres Iniesta, with the legendary midfielder calling time on his Barcelona career after this match. Iniesta has won a whopping 32 trophies during his 16 years in the first team, and he has been at Barcelona since 1996.

It is sure to be an emotional occasion, and the hosts will be desperate to give him a winning send-off.

Kickoff is just around the corner at the Camp Nou, so let's quickly bring you some team news...
BARCELONA STARTING XI: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Mina, Pique, Alba; Coutinho, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Dembele, Suarez
BARCELONA SUBS: Cillessen, Denis Suárez, Messi, Paco Alcácer, Digne, André Gomes, Vidal
REAL SOCIEDAD STARTING XI: Moya; Elustondo, Navas, Llorente, De la Bella; Illarramendi, Zurutuza; Januzaj, Juanmi, Oyarzabel; Willian Jose
REAL SOCIEDAD SUBS: Rulli, Xabi Prieto, Canales, Odriozola, Bautista, Pardo, Zubeldia
There is a brilliant mosaic being made by the fans inside the Camp Nou in honour of Iniesta tonight. He is loved by these fans, and this really is the end of an area for the club tonight.
KICKOFF: After Messi is handed a Player of the Month award by Xavi, Sociedad finally get us underway at the Camp Nou!
CHANCE! An early chance for Sociedad to spoil the party as Januzaj advances down the right flank before picking out Willian Jose in the middle, but he plants his header straight at the keeper.
Brilliant from Dembele as he shows his dancing feet early on. Iniesta is inevitably the creator with a pass out to the right and Dembele beats three defenders on his way into the box before finally being stopped.
SAVE! This has been an open start to this match, and Ter Stegen is called into action again as he pushes Januzaj's low strike away from goal.
SHOT! It is Sociedad who are looking the more likely to open the scoring at the moment. Willian Jose is the latest to have a crack, but his powerful effort zips wide of the target.
CLOSE! Iniesta hasn't exactly been a prolific goalscorer in his Barcelona career, but he comes close here with a low strike from the edge of the box which ripples the side-netting on its way behind.
Chance for Barcelona to test the keeper here as Suarez wins a free kick in a very dangerous position. With no Messi on the pitch, Suarez may take this one on himself...
Suarez does indeed go for goal, but his effort slams straight into the wall.
CHANCE! Big chance for Barcelona to open the scoring as Pique finds himself completely unmarked from a corner, but fluffs his lines as the ball arrives at his feet. His scuffed effort is easy for the keeper to gather.
Real Sociedad certainly haven't just turned up to join in the party here tonight. They are holding their own against the champions in this first half so far.
CHANCE! Good chance for the hosts as Coutinho dances past a couple of players before spreading the ball out to Dembele, who delivers an early cross. Rakitic meets it well in space, but directs his header wide of the target when he should have done better.
CHANCE! Half a chance for Barcelona again, and once more Dembele is the creator. He plays a low ball into the box for Suarez, who gets in front of his marker but steers his effort wide of the far post.
SHOT! Sociedad come forward - which is increasingly rare now - and Oyarzabal collects the ball on the edge of the area. He is allowed the space to turn and shoot, but he never looks particularly confident and his tame shot dribbles past the post.
Dembele has looked lively tonight, but he still isn't quite on the same wavelength as his fellow strikers. He clearly has the ability to beat players with ease, but his link-up play with Suarez and Coutinho et al is just not there yet.
Concern for Barcelona here as Mina and Alba collide when chasing the ball, leaving the latter writhing in agony on the floor. He looks in some pain here, which is not good for him with the World Cup on the horizon.
SHOT! Good play from Januzaj on the right as he escapes the attention of Mina before playing a low ball to the edge of the box which Willian Jose blazes over.
YELLOW CARD! This is a naughty one from Navas. Barcelona break quickly and have three on three, with Dembele leading the charge. He beats Navas, who dives in and catches Dembele right on the ankle. It is a nasty challenge and could easily be a red, but the referee only produces a yellow.
YELLOW CARD! Suarez has also gone into the book for his complaints against only a yellow being shown to Dembele.
Thankfully Dembele is back on his feet and may be able to continue here. On first glance you would not have been surprised if damage had been done to the ligaments or the bone there, but Dembele appears to be OK.
Sure enough, the winger limps back onto the field, although he is still not moving freely at all.
Just one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: Barcelona 0-0 Real Sociedad
The first half comes to an end at the Camp Nou, and it remains goalless between Barcelona and Real Sociedad in Andres Iniesta's farewell game for the club.

Both sides have had their chances in that opening 45 minutes, with Barcelona squandered the two best through Pique and Rakitic, but it is all square and still all to play for on the final day of the season.

As far as Iniesta-watch is concerned, the maestro has been one of the more influential players on the pitch, controlling Barcelona's tempo as ever and playing one or two trademark incisive passes.

Ousmane Dembele has also been lively for the hosts, although there is a question mark over whether he will come back out for the second half after being on the end of a nasty challenge towards the end of that opening 45 minutes.

KICKOFF: Barcelona get us underway for the second half at the Camp Nou!
Sociedad win an early free kick in a good position, but Willian Jose's strike hits the top of the wall and deflects over for a corner.
Dembele has emerged for this second half, by the way, but he still doesn't seem to be moving entirely freely. Everyone involved in the French national team will be holding their breath every time he gets the ball.
YELLOW CARD! Januzaj goes into the book for a high challenge on Mina.
BARCELONA SUB: Sure enough Dembele does depart here, being replaced by Denis Suarez.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad (Philippe Coutinho)
Oh my word, where has this come from?! Out of nothing, Coutinho has scored a beauty to open the scoring here at the Camp Nou!

The Brazilian dribbles forward and just dips inside past a defender to give himself a yard. He then curls a brilliant strike in off the far post, leaving the keeper no chance whatsoever.

REAL SOCIEDAD SUB: The visitors make a change here as Sergio Canales replaces Januzaj.
This crowd is just waiting for a chance to fall to Iniesta tonight, and he almost gets one here after a clever one-two with Rakitic only to be tackled as he tried to dip inside.
BARCELONA SUB: We will get to see Iniesta and Lionel Messi on the pitch at the same time one last time. The Argentine replaces Coutinho.
CHANCE! Pique has had a couple of chances tonight, but again he fails to make the most of this one as his volley is straight at the keeper.
CHANCE! Messi is immediately involved with a rapier-like thrust down the middle of the park before finding Denis Suarez, but the midfielder seems to be caught in two minds and fires his shot-cross wide of the far post. He should have just gone for goal himself there!
REAL SOCIEDAD SUB: Change for the visitors as Alvaro Odriozola comes on for Elustondo.
YELLOW CARD! Alba picks up a cheap yellow card for kicking the ball away in disgust at the referee's decision.
YELLOW CARD! Rakitic picks up a yellow card for a cynical foul to stop a counter-attack.
CHANCE! Brilliant football from Barcelona as Messi bursts forward before giving the ball out to Suarez, who in turn stands the ball up to the far post. Messi hangs in the air - dare I say Ronaldo-esque - but his header is saved by the keeper.
Messi is keen to make an impact during his cameo appearance! He has been full of energy since coming on and looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.
SHOT! Illarramendi drills a low strike towards goal from 25 yards, but his effort goes wide of the target.
BARCELONA SUB: This is a special moment at the Camp Nou - Andres Iniesta says goodbye to Barcelona, being replaced by Paco Alcacer. He says goodbye to every player on his way off the field, and every single one of them wants to say goodbye - even the ref!
Get the tissues at the ready, folks - here is Iniesta's emotional goodbye...


CHANCE! Rakitic plays the ball through for Alcacer, who looks to be in on goal but his first touch lets him down. He still gets a shot away, but blazes it off target.
REAL SOCIEDAD SUB: Iniesta has said farewell, and Xabi Prieto now has the chance to do the same as the one-club skipper comes on for a final appearance before his retirement.
There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this match.
FULL TIME: Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!

Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for Andres Iniesta's farewell Barcelona performance as the Spanish champions sign off with a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.

From me, though, it is goodbye for now!

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