In this competitive La Liga fixture, Real Sociedad's narrow 1-0 victory over Barcelona was shaped by early tactical efficiency and defensive tenacity. Real Sociedad's decisive moment arrived with a first-half goal at the 32nd minute, a pivotal juncture that defined the match's dynamics. This early lead forced Barcelona to play catch-up, disrupting their rhythm and compelling them to attack despite Real Sociedad's disciplined defensive setup.

Statistical analysis reveals that Real Sociedad effectively contained Barcelona’s offensive threats through a combination of strategic fouling and collective defensive effort. Real Sociedad committed 17 fouls compared to Barcelona’s 6, indicating a tactic of breaking the flow and reducing the effectiveness of Barcelona’s normally fluid passing game. This approach, albeit aggressive, didn’t lead to any red cards for Sociedad and successfully limited Barcelona’s clear-cut scoring opportunities.

In terms of set-pieces, Real Sociedad's higher corner count of 7 to Barcelona's 6 underscores their proactive approach in the attacking third. Additionally, both teams displayed similar discipline concerning offsides, with Sociedad being caught offside 3 times versus Barcelona’s 4. However, the crucial difference lay in Sociedad's ability to capitalize on limited chances and sustain pressure through frequent corner kicks, enabling them to maintain the territorial advantage.

The control of the game’s tempo through judicious substitutions and maintaining defensive solidity while avoiding fatigue-induced errors were vital for Sociedad's triumph. Barcelona's single yellow card attests to a more cautious approach, yet they struggled to penetrate the compact defense of Sociedad effectively. Overall, the match demonstrated how pivotal early goals and strategic defensive fouling can disrupt a dominant team’s gameplay, underlining Real Sociedad's astute game management and defensive resilience.

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