Barcelona vs Real Sociedad result: Late Lionel Messi penalty secures victory for Quique Setien’s side

Relive all the action from the Nou Camp

(Getty)

Lionel Messi's late penalty edged Barcelona to a 1-0 victory at home to Real Sociedad to ease the pressure on manager Quique Setien.

Thee 61-year-old, who replaced Ernesto Valverde in January, had come under fire after last weekend's El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid, with reports in the Catalan media suggesting he had lost the support of the dressing room.

Sociedad posed a difficult test for Barca, buoyed by reaching the Copa Del Rey final in midweek, and Setien's side had to wait until the 81st minute for a winner at the Nou Camp.

Messi stepped up to slot home from the spot after Robin Le Normand was adjudged by the video assistant referee to have handled in the area.

Victory sent Barcelona back to the LaLiga summit, two points clear of Real ahead of their trip to Real Betis on Sunday. Relive all the action below:

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

Key Points

• Barcelona XI ter Stegen, Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, de Jong, Messi, Griezmann, Braithwaite
• Sociedad XI: Remiro, Monreal, Le Normad, Llorente, Gorosabel, Guevara, Barrenetxea, Merino, Odegaard, Portu, Isak

[7 March 2020 16:39 · Jack Rathborn]

Real Sociedad XI

Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Gorosabel, Llorente, Le Normand, Monreal; Guevara, Ødegaard, Merino; Portu, Isak, Barrenetxea

[7 March 2020 16:48 · Jack Rathborn]

Inter shut door on Lautaro exit after Barcelona speculation 

Inter Milan president Steven Zhang has dismissed speculation linking Lautaro Martinez with an exit this summer with Barcelona strongly linked in recent months.

At Inter, one of the biggest clubs in the world, you should push yourself to the max to win.

We don't want to sell our talented players and we want to attract the best talent in the world.

[7 March 2020 16:56 · Jack Rathborn]

Remember when... 

Fond memories for those who follow La Real, Darko Kovacevic caused Barcelona all sorts of problems back in the day.

[7 March 2020 17:14 · Michael Jones]

Fortress Camp Nou

Barcelona have won each of their last 21 La Liga games at home to Real Sociedad keeping clean sheets in 12 of those games. The last time Real Sociedad avoided defeat here in La Liga was a 1-1 draw in 1995/96.

[7 March 2020 17:21 · Michael Jones]

Prolific Barcelona

Barca love it when Real Sociedad come to town. They averge 2.4 goals a game when they face the Basque side at home. In fact Barcelona have scored in each of the last 32 home games against Sociedad. Only against two other teams have Barcelona had a longer scoring run, 45 matches against Celta de Vigo between 1942-2014 and 33 games against Deportivo between 1941-2003.

[7 March 2020 17:26 · Michael Jones]

There's just five minutes to go until kick off, the warm ups are over. Barcelona will go back to the top of La Liga if they win, at least until Real Madrid play at 8pm tomorrow.

[7 March 2020 17:33 · Michael Jones]

Barcelona 0 - 0 Real Sociedad

Kick off: Barcelona start the match and pass the ball around the back before giving it to Ter Stegen. He sends it long but the ball goes out for a throw in.

[7 March 2020 17:35 · Michael Jones]

Barcelona 0 - 0 Real Sociedad

3 mins: De Jong loses the ball and Portu gets free on the right wing. He passes to Odegaard who loses the ball in Barca's area. 

[7 March 2020 17:38 · Michael Jones]

Barcelona 0 - 0 Real Sociedad

6 mins: Odegaard storms into the box past De Jong and shoots hitting the side netting. Barcelona keep attempting to play the ball out from the back but Sociedad are closing them down quickly and making it hard work.

[7 March 2020 17:41 · Michael Jones]

Barcelona 0 - 0 Real Sociedad

9 mins: Odegaard hits a low cross in from the right wing. The ball flies through two pairs of legs before Pique can boot it clear. Real Sociedad have started very well, they look confident.