Messi's penalty was his 19th league goal of the season
Lionel Messi scored a late penalty as Barcelona edged to victory over Real Sociedad to move top of La Liga.
Barca go two points clear of Real Madrid, but Zinedine Zidane's side can regain top spot with victory at Real Betis on Sunday (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
The home side's spot-kick was awarded for Robin le Normand's handball, which the referee saw on the pitchside monitor, allowing Messi to convert.
Alexander Isak smashed a shot wide from Sociedad's best chance of the game.
- Relive Barcelona's win over Real Sociedad
Barca thought they had a second in the 95th minute when Jordi Alba stroked a finish into an open net, but substitute Ansu Fati was adjudged to be narrowly offside by VAR.
Former Middlesbrough striker Martin Braithwaite, who signed for Barca in an emergency transfer outside the transfer window, was dangerous in the first half, striking a couple of shots straight at Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
Ivan Rakitic had a thumping effort from the edge of the area pushed away, while Gerard Pique headed straight at Remiro from inside the six yard box.
Messi seemed to be having an off day when he side-footed a shot wide from 10 yards out and curled another off target, but the skipper proved to be the match winner, clipping home an 81st minute penalty for his 19th league goal of the season.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Barcelona
1ter Stegen
2Nélson Semedo
3PiquéBooked at 61mins
15LengletBooked at 16mins
18Alba
4RakiticSubstituted forVidalat 74'minutes
5BusquetsBooked at 88mins
21de Jong
17GriezmannSubstituted forFatiat 85'minutes
10MessiBooked at 42mins
19BraithwaiteSubstituted forFirpoat 89'minutes
Substitutes
13Murara Neto
22Vidal
23Umtiti
24Firpo
28Puig
30Collado
31Fati
Real Sociedad
1Remiro
18Gorosabel
3LlorenteSubstituted forZubeldiaat 71'minutes
24Le Normand
20Monreal
16GuevaraBooked at 76mins
8MerinoBooked at 56mins
7Portugués Manzanera
21Ødegaard
22BarrenetxeaSubstituted forOyarzabalat 58'minutesBooked at 80mins
19IsakSubstituted forDa Silvaat 82'minutes
Substitutes
2Zaldua
5Zubeldia
9Da Silva
10Oyarzabal
11Januzaj
12Muñoz
13Moyá
Referee:
Juan Martínez Munuera
Attendance:
77,035
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamReal Sociedad
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home13
Away9
Shots on Target
Home6
Away1
Corners
Home4
Away4
Fouls
Home12
Away10
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Barcelona 1, Real Sociedad 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+8'
Second Half ends, Barcelona 1, Real Sociedad 0.
Posted at 90'+7'
VAR Decision: No Goal Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad.
Posted at 90'+6'
GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Jordi Alba (Barcelona) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
Posted at 90'+6'
Offside, Barcelona. Lionel Messi tries a through ball, but Ansu Fati is caught offside.
Posted at 90'+5'
Foul by Ansu Fati (Barcelona).
Posted at 90'+5'
Nacho Monreal (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Clément Lenglet.
Posted at 89'
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Arturo Vidal.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Barcelona. Júnior Firpo replaces Martin Braithwaite.
BookingPosted at 88'
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Posted at 88'
Martin Ødegaard (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 87'
Hand ball by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
SubstitutionPosted at 85'
Substitution, Barcelona. Ansu Fati replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
Posted at 83'
Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Willian José replaces Alexander Isak.
Goal!Posted at 81'
Goal! Barcelona 1, Real Sociedad 0. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
BookingPosted at 80'
Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 79'
VAR Decision: Penalty Barcelona.
Posted at 77'
Penalty conceded by Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
BookingPosted at 76'
Ander Guevara (Real Sociedad) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 76'
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Ander Guevara (Real Sociedad).
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Barcelona. Arturo Vidal replaces Ivan Rakitic.
Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mikel Merino.
Posted at 72'
Corner, Real Sociedad. Conceded by Nélson Semedo.
SubstitutionPosted at 71'
Substitution, Real Sociedad. Igor Zubeldia replaces Diego Llorente because of an injury.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Martin Braithwaite (Barcelona).
Posted at 70'
Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 66'
Attempt saved. Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross.
Posted at 65'
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Alexander Isak.
Posted at 65'
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Álex Remiro.
Posted at 64'
Attempt saved. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann.
BookingPosted at 61'
Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 61'
Foul by Gerard Piqué (Barcelona).
Posted at 61'
Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 60'
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann with a headed pass.
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Source: bbc.com