If you are going to find yourself on the beach after a long, hard and ultimately successful season, then there are few more picturesque than Barcelona’s.
And, with Xavi Hernandez’s side taking their foot off the gas after sealing their first La Liga title since 2019, Real Sociedad – and Alexander Sorloth in particular – certainly enjoyed their trip to the Catalonian coast over the weekend. Building castles in the Barceloneta sand.
Sororloth, the one-time Crystal Palace striker who was barely given even a shred of an opportunity at Selhurst Park, scored one and set up the other as Champions League-chasing La Real tasted victory at the Camp Nou for the first time since 1991.
Drifting out wide to devastating effect, Sorloth burst down the left-hand side before squaring unselfishly for Mikel Merino with less than five minutes on the clock.
Alexander Sorloth showing Crystal Palace what they are missing
A similarly well-placed pass gifted Mohamed-Ali Cho a chance he could not convert soon rather.
And, fittingly, it was Sorloth – the best player on the Camp Nou pitch – who consigned Barcelona to only their fourth defeat of an outstanding La Liga campaign in the closing stages, ruthlessly slotting home in a manner alien to Crystal Palace supporters who watched the £9 million benchwarmer plod through a handful of cameo appearances in red-and-white.
“I have always said that when Alex gives his best version, he is a top player,” La Real coach Imanol Alguacil tells Mundo Deportivo of his 15-goal top scorer, expressing his desire to retain the RB Leipzig loanee on a full-time basis.
“He has shown it again. Not only in this last game, but throughout the season. He is a difference-maker when he is good.
“He’s having a great season.”
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