A 10-year old curse was finally been broken on Thursday, as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in the the Copa Del Rey quarter-final first leg.
Barcelona were handed a daunting draw for the quarter-finals as the Blaugrana were drawn against Real Sociedad, with the club’s recent record at the Anoeta Stadium being nothing short of abysmal.
With very few giving them much of a chance to win the first leg, Barcelona set about tackling the big challenge. Luis Enrique set his side up efficiently as Barcelona dominated possession, and deprived Real Sociedad of chances at their goal while creating very few themselves.
However, they needed just one goal from one decisive chance, and Neymar did just that as he won and scored a penalty to hand Barcelona a 1-0 win, establish an important one-goal lead, getting one step closer to defending their title and finally breaking the Anoeta curse.
Here are the best tweets after a hard fought win for Copa Del Rey holders Barcelona.
⌚️ Final whistle! Barça win 1-0 in Anoeta against Real Sociedad thanks to Neymar’s first half penalty #FCBlive #CopaFCB pic.twitter.com/MNXeaZaoxz
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 19, 2017
Neymar’s penalty gave Barcelona a Copa del Rey last-eight first-leg victory and ended their eight-game winless run at Real Sociedad. #UCL pic.twitter.com/EuzYkdfYFj
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 19, 2017
19 – Neymar has won 19 penalties for Barcelona, at least six more than any other La Liga player since 2013/14 (all comps). Unstopabble. pic.twitter.com/xhxHgtg3uy
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 19, 2017
Last time Barcelona won at Anoeta, Rijkaard was coach, Messi was 19 & Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne topped the charts.https://t.co/0R5QFPmrWL pic.twitter.com/DfpwC5AqMa
— MARCA in English (@MARCAinENGLISH) January 19, 2017
Barcelona win at Real Sociedad…finally. pic.twitter.com/u5dgKXqLRW
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) January 19, 2017
2 – Only Lionel Messi (17) has scored more goals than Neymar (14) in Copa del Rey since Brazilian joined Barcelona. Prince. pic.twitter.com/I8t5CTqfQi
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 19, 2017
FT: Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona
Thanks to Neymar’s penalty, Barca win at Real Sociedad for the first time since 2007. #CopaDelRey
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 19, 2017
Neymar for Barcelona in the Copa del Rey:
? 17 appearances
? 14 goals
? 3 assists
⚫ W15 L2#SociedadFCB pic.twitter.com/t3WCxQhC8S— NEYMARSTATS ?? (@NeymarStats) January 19, 2017
Barcelona fans were visibly excited as as a 10-year-old curse at the Anoeta Stadium was finally broken on Thursday night:
Luis Enrique has become the 1st Barcelona coach to win at Anoeta since 2007 #fcblive
— Barcastuff (@barcastuff_real) January 19, 2017
Barcelona in last 9 games against Real Sociedad at Anoeta (all comps):
LDLDLLLDW
Won – 1
Drawn – 3
Lost – 5— Barça News Forum (@BarcaNewsForum) January 19, 2017
Real Madrid lose to Celta Vigo first time at home 8 years ✅
Barcelona break the Anoeta Curse first time in 10 years✅
It was a good day ?— Mazen Bazazo (@Maze302) January 19, 2017
Finally we won at Anoeta
FT Sociedad vs Barcelona 0:1 pic.twitter.com/TWjUJYVkRH— Messi and Marc fan (@stojmanovska2) January 19, 2017
Barcelona didn’t play a pretty game, but definitely a smart one IMO. Defended very well most of the time & got the goal. Job done.
— Jen Evelyn (@JenFCB) January 19, 2017
Una década después… Barcelona derrota en Anoeta a la Real Sociedad
— Nicole Piña (@NicolePna_) January 19, 2017
In the last two seasons Messi has given up 15 penalties for his teammates to score. ? pic.twitter.com/9rwklckudl
— Barcelona Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) January 19, 2017
Great gesture by Messi again giving a penalty to Neymar, WE’RE WINNING AT ANOETA, DEFEND WITH YOUR LIVES NOW pic.twitter.com/pIrxcaUMWs
— Barcelona Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) January 19, 2017
Anoeta curse is lifted after ten years. Well done. Real Sociedad 0-1FC Barcelona ??
— Anisullah Jan Raees (@anisjanrais) January 19, 2017
WTF just happened https://t.co/ZCFMwVFN9e
— FC Barcelona Live (@FCBarceIonaLive) January 19, 2017
Barcelona have broken the Anoeta curse!
— ️️️️barca (@cuIegirI) January 19, 2017
Real Sociedad managed to Piss off Leo, a Messi masterclass in the second half is coming!
— Barcelona Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) January 19, 2017
El Barcelona acaba con el gafe de Anoeta diez años después (0-1)
— Saw BoYz Dembow (@juniorfresh02) January 19, 2017
Wait, Barcelona won at Anoeta? ? I don’t know when but at some point we transferred into a parallel universe.
— helena (@haumue) January 19, 2017
On the other news Barcelona won in Anoeta after 10 years! Not bad..
— Benjamin Kolenovic (@BeniKolenovic) January 19, 2017
Barcelona’s Anoeta curse finally ends. Only took a decade and 4 different managers to finally crack the code.
— Edin Halilović (@edinh_96) January 19, 2017
