Barca beat Real Sociedad to top Liga as Yamal returns
BARCELONA: Lamine Yamal returned from injury to help Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday and move top of La Liga by one point. After Real Madrid were thrashed 5-2 by rivals Atletico Madrid in a derby on Saturday, Hansi Flick’s side had the chance to claim pole position above Xabi Alonso’s side. Alvaro Odriozola gave Real Sociedad the lead against the run of play in the first half but Jules Kounde headed the Spanish champions level. Yamal, who missed the last four games with a groin injury, created the winner for Robert Lewandowski just moments after coming on as a second-half substitute. “I’m very happy for (Yamal), very pleased that he’s back on the pitch because we’re going to need him,” Kounde told Movistar. Barcelona held the game at the Olympic stadium, where they have played for the last two seasons, after the city council refused them a permit to reopen their Camp Nou home earlier in the week. Flick handed 17-year-old attacking midfielder Dro Fernandez his debut, also starting Roony Bardghji on the right wing and bringing in veteran Wojciech Szczesny for injured goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Barcelona dominated the ball in the first half but found it hard to beat Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro. The Spain international made a fine save to deny Marcus Rashford in the early stages. On loan from Manchester United, Rashford is finding his footing at Barca and played a superb through ball for Lewandowski, who fired across the face of goal from a tight angle. Real Sociedad hit Barca with a sharp counter-attack to open the scoring after 31 minutes. Former Real Madrid defender Odriozola applied the finishing touch to Ander Barrenetxea’s cross. Barcelona stepped up a gear and found Remiro in their way again, with