Real Sociedad 1-6 Barcelona: Player ratings as Barça thump La Real to keep title dreams alive

Barcelona kept the pressure on La Liga leaders Atlético Madrid as they cruised to a 6-1 victory over Real Sociedad in San Sebastian on Sunday night.

Barça nearly fell behind to fine efforts from Alexander Isak twice early on, but he was twice denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal.

The visitors took the lead on 37 minutes through an Antoine Griezmann birthday tap-in and did not look back. Six minutes later Lionel Messi slid Sergiño Dest in to blast home, before the USMNT star doubled up after the break from a wonderful Jordi Alba assist.

Messi inevitably got on the scoresheet himself three minutes later to kill off the game, latching on to a sumptuous lofted through ball from Sergio Busquets and applying the finish. Ousmane Dembélé then capped a mazy dribble with a low drive, before Ander Barrentxea fired home a consolation for the hosts.

Blaugrana talisman Messi completed the rout late on, finishing in trademark fashion following fine build-up work from Riqui Puig and Alba.

The resounding result leaves Barcelona four points behind table-topping Atléti in La Liga. Here's how their players rated...

BARCELONA PLAYER RATINGS

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) - 7/10 - Saved well from a close-range Isak effort early on. Tested again by the Swede later in the half but got down to save brilliantly.

Oscar Mingueza (CB) - 7/10 - Tried to support the attack in the first half but was a little loose with his passing. Rarely troubled otherwise and looked calm and confident.

Frenkie de Jong (CB) - 6/10 - Almost paid the price after being shrugged off and dispossessed by Isak in the first half. Looked more comfortable in midfield in the second half.

Clement Lenglet (CB) - 6/10 - Had very little to do all night to be honest, but did the simple things with minimal fuss.

2. Wing-backs & midfielders

Sergiño Dest (RWB) - 8/10 - Saw a mis-hit cross drop onto the bar. Doubled the lead with a powerful finish - his first in the league - after being picked out by Messi. Got his second and Barça's third after blocking a clearance into the back of the net after the break.

Sergio Busquets (CM) - 7/10 - Booked for halting a breakaway in the first half. Made amends with a classy assist for Messi and was typically neat and tidy otherwise.

Pedri (CM) - 6/10 - Neat in possession but spurned a good shooting chance from the edge of the box in the first period. Didn't have too much of an impact other than keeping things ticking over.

Jordi Alba (LWB) - 8/10 - A threat all night long. Got to the byline to provide the pass that led to the opener, then delivered a wonderful assist after another spellbinding run and nutmeg early in the second half, before again supplying Messi in the dying embers. Unstoppable.

3. Forwards

Lionel Messi (RF) - 9/10 - Constantly scheming on the edge of the 18-yard box. Involved in the buildup to the opener and assisted Dest with a lovely through ball. Struck himself for the fourth, finishing from a clipped ball over the top from Busquets. Doubled up in the penultimate minute after some lovely play from Alba and Riqui Puig.

Ousmane Dembélé (CF) - 8/10 - Missed a tap-in in the first half but fortunately the rebound fell to Griezmann. Had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR minutes before going on a scintillating long run and driving home.

Antoine Griezmann (LF) - 8/10 - After a quiet first half-hour on his birthday he pounced on Dembélé's rebound to open the scoring - his second in as many games. Used the ball well throughout and posed a constant threat.

4. Substitutes

Riqui Puig - 7/10 - Excellent work in the buildup to Messi's second.

Francisco Trincão - N/A

Martin Braithwaite - 5/10 - Booked.

Ronald Araujo - N/A

Ilaix Moriba - 6/10 - Got an assist for Dembélé.

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