Barcelona have not won at Real Sociedad for 11 years… and even David Moyes has struck victory over Lionel Messi and Co
Catalans have lost last four visits to Anoeta and have failed to win since Basque side returned to La Liga in 2010
BARCELONA may be unbeaten this season, but they face arguably their toughest test of the campaign at Real Sociedad tonight.
Almost 11 years have passed since the Catalan giants last recorded a victory at Anoeta — on May 5, 2007.
A run of four successive defeats — one of which was to a side managed by David Moyes en route to completing the Treble — was ended with a draw last season.
But it's still over a decade without three points in La Liga.
Sociedad missed three seasons in the top-flight following relegation in 2007, but their return has been a thorn in Barcelona’s side.
Ahead of their next meeting in the Basque country, we take a look back at how, despite winning the Champions League three times and La Liga six times, they just can’t win a league match at Anoeta.
Real Sociedad 2 Barcelona 1 — 2010-11
Pep Guardiola’s Champions League-winners that season are often regarded as the greatest club side of all-time.
And this defeat took place with four games remaining and the title still not wrapped up.
Xabi Prieto’s 82nd-minute penalty completed an unlikely comeback, after Thiago Alcantara had given the visitors the lead and Diego Ifran had equalised.
Real Madrid’s defeat to Real Zaragoza on the same day maintained Barca’s ten-point lead and they would seal the title two games later.
Real Sociedad 2 Barcelona 2 — 2011-12
In their first three home games of Guardiola’s final season at the helm, Barca had beaten Villarreal 5-0, Osasuna 8-0 and Atletico Madrid 5-0.
But couldn’t get all three points at Anoeta in their second match of the season.
Xavi and Cesc Fabregas gave the visitors a seemingly unassailable lead with goals in two first-half minutes.
But Sociedad hit back through Imanol Agirretxe and Antoine Griezmann in three second-half minutes.
Real Sociedad 3 Barcelona 2 — 2012-13
Another visit and another comeback for the hosts — but none were as dramatic as this.
Lionel Messi — who scored for the tenth game in succession — and Pedro gave Barca a 2-0 lead within 25 minutes but Gonzalo Castro levelled with a goal in each half.
And Agirretxe hit a dramatic winner with the final kick of the game.
This was the first defeat of the season for the eventual champions after 20 La Liga matches.
Real Sociedad 3 Barcelona 1 — 2013-14
This was the season where everyone wrote Barcelona’s obituaries after they finished the campaign trophyless.
An Alex Song own goal gave the hosts a rare opening goal, but Messi hit back just four minutes later.
Griezmann put the hosts back in front, before David Zurutuza completed the victory.
Defeat put Barca three points behind leaders, Real Madrid, but it was Atletico who eventually won the title.
Real Sociedad 1 Barcelona 0 — 2014-15
Jordi Alba's second-minute own goal killed this game — but it unleashed a monster.
Moyes secured one of the most famous victories of his managerial career over a Barca side which had enjoyed an indifferent start to the season.
But following this defeat, they went on an almost unstoppable rampage and won the Treble.
Luis Enrique’s men dropped just seven points in their final 21 matches of the season.
Real Sociedad 1 Barcelona 0 — 2015-16
Barcelona lost for the second consecutive La liga game following defeat at home to Real Madrid — which came on the back of a draw against Villarreal.
And their next match was a shock home defeat to Valencia which saw the Catalans’ nine-point lead at the summit reduced to just one in a remarkable bout of poor form.
Mikel Oyarzabal netted the only goal of the game on five minutes.
Messi needed just one to make it 500 career goals, but his relatively poor spell in front of goal continued.
Real Sociedad 1 Barcelona 1
Barcelona came into this match in disarray — and battling just to stay in contention with runaway leaders Real Madrid.
Willian Jose gave the hosts the lead on 53 minutes, before Messi equalised just before the hour mark against the run of play.
Real Sociedad should have won the match as they dominated, with ex-Arsenal man Carlos Vela twice hit the post.
But it finished 1-1 at Barca headed into that season's first El Clasico five points behind Real Madrid and level with Sevilla.