Real Sociedad Come Up With A Genius Tactic To Defend Lionel Messi Free-Kick

Real Sociedad have come up with a genius tactic to defend Lionel Messi's free-kick during their La Liga clash with Barcelona.

Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 1-0 at the Camp Nou on Saturday thanks to a penalty from Messi, but the visitors did prevent him from scoring a free-kick after a curious yet clever set up.

The Basque side had a conventional way for a Messi free-kick, along with SEVEN players behind the wall including two on the goal line, in between the goalkeeper.

Curious La Real setup to defend Messi free kick pic.twitter.com/whBKUilMBd

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) March 7, 2020

This is how Real Sociedad defended Messi's free kick.

Madness 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pQ1o9bIJNC

— Barcelona Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) March 7, 2020

Messi stepped up and failed to convert the free-kick with Real Sociedad's method paying off.

Naturally, their set up became the talking point of the online football community.

Mahhhnnnn... Teams be doing mad research on how to stop Messi... See how these Real Sociedad players gathered the box 18 instead of making a wall for the free kick

— Reyes Viii (@Rey_Viii) March 7, 2020

Lmao, see how Real Sociedad defended that Messi free kick 😂. Great tactical set up.

— JthaZeus (@jwhitepm) March 7, 2020

Lol that tactical set up by Real Sociedad to defend Leo’s free kick is probably one more teams are going to start adapting now 🙄😂 #BarçaRealSociedad

— Nicholas Bayley (@_nicholasbayley) March 7, 2020

One wrote: "A new way to defend Messi's free kick has been unlocked by Real Sociedad."

A second tweeted: "Well, that's some way to avoid a free kick goal by Messi from Real Sociedad."

A third added: "'Real Sociedad's free kick defending technique is excellent."

Messi, though, eventually found the back of the net courtesy of an 81st minute penalty. The victory moves his side above Real Madrid to the top of the table.