Ten-man Barcelona shocked by Sociedad
January 19, 2013 -- Updated 2302 GMT (0702 HKT)
A disconsolate Lionel Messi ponders Barcelona's first defeat of the La Liga season.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Barcelona slump to first league defeat of the season losing 3-2 at Real Sociedad
- Defeat ends unbeaten league run which saw Tito Vilanova's side amass 55 points from possible 57
- In Serie A, Paul Pogba stars for Juventus in 4-0 win over Udinese; Second-place Lazio draw at Palermo
(CNN) -- Barcelona's unbeaten record in La Liga was dramatically ended on Saturday as they slumped to a shock 3-2 defeat at Real Sociedad.
Tito Vilanova's side were two goals up inside the first half hour thanks to strikes from Lionel Messi (7th minute) and Pedro (25th minute) and looked to be on course for another routine three points.
But five minutes before the break, Uruguayan winger Gonzalo Castro halved the deficit and when Barca's Gerard Pique was shown his second yellow card in the 56th minute the home side took full toll of the numerical advantage.
Six minutes later, Castro found the target again to level the scores and to set up a tense finale which concluded in dramatic fashion when striker Imanol Agirretxe stabbed home from close range in injury time.
Messi claims fourth Ballon d'Or
Lionel Messi breaks goal scoring record
The defeat brings the curtain down on a sensational run of results for the Catalans who, until Saturday, had amassed 55 points from a possible 57 -- Real Madrid the only team to take points off them this season with a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp in October.
Second-placed Atletico Madrid can close the gap on Barcelona to eight points if they beat Levante on Sunday.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Getafe and Sevilla drew 1-1 while struggling Granada beat sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano 2-0.
Meanwhile in Serie A, league leaders Juventus recorded an emphatic 4-0 win against Udinese.
Paul Pogba scored two memorable goals as the reigning champions moved five points clear at the top of the table.
The 19-year-old French forward unleashed an unstoppable 35-yard strike in the 41st minute before netting again in the 66th minute with another long-range effort.
Mirko Vucinic added a third six minutes later before substitute Alessandro Matri completed the rout with ten minutes remaining.
Second-placed Lazio, who were also in action on Saturday, could only draw 2-2 away at relegation-threatened Palermo.
Part of complete coverage on
June 19, 2013 -- Updated 1231 GMT (2031 HKT)
In Brazil many believe the World Cup has seen the rich line their pockets, while the poor make do with crumbling public services.
No European team has ever won a World Cup in South America, but that could likely change next year, says CNN's John Sinnott.
June 14, 2013 -- Updated 1950 GMT (0350 HKT)
Brazil's fans were ready to celebrate a first World Cup triumph, but what happened next has left a burning scar in the nation's psyche.
NN World Sport examines why racism continues to be a problem in football and what is being done to tackle discrimination.
June 13, 2013 -- Updated 1207 GMT (2007 HKT)
Germany's Under-21s may bowed out of the European Championship Finals in Israel, but their experiences left a lasting impression.
Be part of CNN's coverage of European Champions League matches and join the social debate.
CNN's James Masters has had a close look at the next generation of European football stars at the U21 championship in Israel.
June 6, 2013 -- Updated 1425 GMT (2225 HKT)
A former Palestinian player, once held without charge for three years, is campaigning for a boycott of Israel's staging of a major European tournament.
May 23, 2013 -- Updated 1052 GMT (1852 HKT)
When Germany's two biggest soccer clubs go head-to-head in the Champions League final, there can only be one winner: German industry.
May 22, 2013 -- Updated 1356 GMT (2156 HKT)
The Bundesliga model of sustainability is very much in vogue. But are Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund creating a dangerous duopoly?
May 23, 2013 -- Updated 1015 GMT (1815 HKT)
CNN takes an exclusive look at the venue of the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
May 17, 2013 -- Updated 1710 GMT (0110 HKT)
David Beckham embraced his tag as a "gay icon" and has been credited with breaking the big taboo -- homosexuality in football.
May 13, 2013 -- Updated 0750 GMT (1550 HKT)
'King' Alex Ferguson is quitting Manchester United but the $3.17 billion brand will survive, according to experts.
May 7, 2013 -- Updated 1418 GMT (2218 HKT)
Italian football lags behind its other European rivals commercially, but newly-crowned Italian champions Juventus is showing Serie A clubs an example of revival.
April 24, 2013 -- Updated 1434 GMT (2234 HKT)
Luis Suarez's biting of Branislav Ivanovic is the latest episode of moments of madness when soccer stars behave badly.
March 29, 2013 -- Updated 0938 GMT (1738 HKT)
Sunderland's partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation is part of its bid to woo the African market.
March 28, 2013 -- Updated 1558 GMT (2358 HKT)
Each year as many as 700 Cameroonian young footballers leave Africa in search of a professional career abroad.
May 6, 2013 -- Updated 1201 GMT (2001 HKT)
Referees across Europe are feeling the heat. Insulted, threatened, chased off the field, attacked, hospitalized and, tragically, killed.
February 26, 2013 -- Updated 1225 GMT (2025 HKT)
Footballers have a battery of physios, fitness trainers and doctors all striving to fine-tune their physique -- but are they missing a trick?
June 10, 2013 -- Updated 1041 GMT (1841 HKT)
Hardcore Italian football "ultra" Federico is a Lazio supporter who happily admits directing monkey chants at black players.
Today's five most popular stories