La Liga: Barcelona Stumbles as Real Madrid Rises

FC Barcelona suffered its second defeat of the season, losing 1-0 to Real Sociedad. This result leaves Barcelona six points clear of  at the top of , but with Madrid having a game in hand.

The only goal of the match came from Sheraldo Becker's first-time finish into the corner of the net, which was enough to secure all three points for Real Sociedad. This victory was a reward for the San Sebastian-based side's best performance of the season, while Barcelona was below its best. Barcelona's performance was hampered by the loss of Lamine Yamal before kickoff due to an ankle injury, which was announced by the club.

Additionally, Frenkie de Jong also had to leave the match injured. Barcelona struggled to repeat the high-press that has served it so well this season, leaving its high defensive line vulnerable to the home side, who attacked effectively with Becker, Take Kubo, and Mikel Oyarzabal.

Real Sociedad was disciplined and committed in defense, and it says much of its display that although Robert Lewandowski saw a first-half effort ruled out for the narrowest of offsides, Barcelona failed to have a legal effort on target all game. This was a blow for Barcelona, who had been performing well in the season up until this point.

In other La Liga news, Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 4-0 win at home to Osasuna, with Vinicius Jr's hat-trick and Jude Bellingham scoring the other goal. However, the win came at a heavy cost with central defender Eder Militao suffering a season-ending cruciate ligament tear, while full back Lucas Vazquez and forward Rodrygo suffered muscle injuries.

Villarreal registered a 3-0 win at home to Alaves, which was given extra sheen by two goals in the last ten minutes as the home side turned on the style in the second half. Ilias Akhomach opened the scoring with a turn and left-footed shot in the 38th minute, before he fell victim to a torn knee ligament.

Dani Parejo's 81st-minute penalty and Santi Comesana's finish from another swift break rounded off a convincing win. Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 win in Mallorca, thanks to Julian Alvarez's second-half goal on an assist from Giuliano Simeone. Mallorca will be frustrated at its defending in the goal and also after failing to take any of the several chances it created in the game, with Jan Oblak again impressing in the Atletico goal.

Gorka Guruzeta's acrobatic 94th-minute finish saved a point for Athletic Bilbao away to Valladolidgorkaguru9

Real Betis twice came back from behind to take a point in a 2-2 draw with Celta, thanks to Marc Bartra's 95th-minute diving header. Javi Rodriguez fired Celta ahead in the 13th minute, but loanee Vitor Roque leveled five minutes from halftime when he side-footed home Johnny Cardoso's pass.

An unmarked Anastasios Douvikas put Celta back ahead at the far post with eight minutes left to play, but Bartra saved a point at the death for Betis. In a thrilling finish, Gorka Guruzeta's acrobatic 94th-minute finish saved a point for Athletic Bilbao away to Valladolid just when it looked as if Raul Moro's 79th-minute header was going to give the home side its second home win of the season. Neither side created many clear chances in the game, with Athletic looking tired after Thursday's UEFA Europa League visit to Bulgaria.

Yangel Herrera's 42nd-minute header gave Girona an important win away to Getafe, who has only got one triumph all season and could drop into the bottom three if Valencia and Espanyol win their games in hand, after the weekend clash between the two sides was postponed.