Barcelona: Barcelona squandered a strong first-half performance to drop its first points of the Spanish league season, letting Real Sociedad rally for a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas struck early for the European champions while Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta rested for Tuesday's Champions League game against AC Milan.
But after being completely dominated for 45 minutes, Imanol Agirretxe and Antoine Griezmann equalised for Sociedad with two goals in as many minutes early in the second half.
Messi and Iniesta came on but the three-time defending Spanish league champion failed to avenge their last league loss at Sociedad in April.
"Two defensive lapses, two errors that cost us dearly," Xavi said. "That's football. The game was under control and we could have even sealed the win with the third goal."
At Anoeta stadium, the 21-year-old Andreu Fontas started in defence for Barcelona while Gerard Pique recovers from a calf injury. Carles Puyol did not play after rejoining the squad for the first time since May.
Newcomers Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez filled in for the regular starters along with the club's latest youth product, Thiago Alcantara.
Fabregas soon showed his versatility, making the key pass in Xavi's opener and a minute later finishing off another passing display to double the visitors' advantage.
Barcelona's first two goals were almost identical: two lobbed passed over the top of Sociedad's defence as it was caught trying to spring an offside trap, with a second pass for an open player to tap in.
Fabregas picked out Sanchez breaking behind the defence and the Chile forward slotted his pass across for Xavi to volley in from close range in the 10th.
Seconds later it was Xavi's turn to find Fabregas sprinting free. The former Arsenal captain slid the ball across to Pedro Rodriguez, whose timid shot was blocked by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, but Fabregas was quick to pounce and fire into the top of the net.
David Villa substituted Sanchez at the half hour mark when the former Udinese player hurt his right thigh and had to be assisted off the pitch. Spanish media reports said Sanchez has a muscle tear.
While Barcelona owned the first half, the hosts were the better side after halftime.
Agirretxe rose above his marker to head in Xabi Prieto's short cross in the 60th for his third goal of the young season.
Moments later, Villa erred in his back pass that fell to Agirretxe. The Basque striker rounded goalkeeper Victor Valdes only to hit the crossbar, but French winger Antoine Griezmann rushed in to rifle in the rebound.
"It's great to score goals but above all win they mean points," Agirretxe said.
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