Barcelona crush Sociedad in four-goal Rampage to reclaim La Liga summit

The emphatic victory, powered by goals from Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo, and Robert Lewandowski, handed Barcelona 57 points from 26 matches - enough to edge out Atletico Madrid by one point and rivals Real Madrid by three.

Flick, speaking to reporters after the match, highlighted the team's relentless offensive mindset. "This is how we want to play, always thinking about attack, always looking to pass. The players are hungry to score, and it showed today," he said.

"We're delighted with the three points, though. That matters more than the goals."

The game turned decisively in Barcelona's favor when Sociedad's Aritz Elustondo saw red midway through the first half for dragging down Dani Olmo on a dangerous run. The hosts capitalized seven minutes later as Lamine Yamal bamboozled a defender before teeing up Olmo, who found Martin at the back post for the 23-year-old's first professional goal.

Before the half-hour mark, Olmo's deflected shot - credited to Casado - doubled the lead, leaving Sociedad reeling.

The second half brought more misery for the visitors. Araujo pounced on a Lewandowski header parried by Sociedad keeper Alex Remiro, then turned provider as his long-range effort was cleverly redirected by the Polish striker for the fourth. "We were dominant, especially after the red card," Flick noted. "That's the level we aim for."

Flick also addressed concerns over Gavi's absence from the starting lineup. "He felt ill yesterday with a fever, so we decided not to risk him," the German coach explained. "It wasn't necessary to bring him on with the game in hand."

With an eye on their midweek Champions League clash against Benfica, Flick made a triple substitution shortly after Araujo's goal. "Resting players was key," he said. "Benfica have had a week to prepare, so we need to be sharp."

Sociedad, meanwhile, struggled to respond after Elustondo's dismissal. An early disallowed goal from Sergio Gomez and a missed chance by Orri Oskarsson - ruled offside after hitting the bar - proved their only highlights in a torrid afternoon.

The defeat, their 26th in 27 league visits to Barcelona, leaves Imanol Alguacil's side languishing in ninth.

Flick's men, now unbeaten in 15 games across all competitions, head into their Benfica showdown brimming with confidence after this latest masterclass.

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