Barcelona needed just 45 minutes to make this one a formality. Hansi Flick’s side led 4-0 at the break thanks to a Raphinha brace and goals from Fermín and Lamine Yamal, then added two more after halftime to record a dominant 6-1 win over Alaves at Spotify Camp Nou. The result moves Barcelona to 27 points, one behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, who have played one game more.
Key Moments
- 8′, Raphinha opens the scoring, finishing from a Fermín assist to give Barcelona an early advantage.
- 23′, Fermín turns provider into scorer, converting a pass from Lamine Yamal to make it 2-0.
- 41′, Raphinha doubles his tally, again set up by Fermín, putting the game beyond any doubt before the break.
- 45′, Lamine Yamal adds a fourth just before the whistle, finishing off a João Cancelo assist to send Barcelona in 4-0 up at halftime.
- 64′, Lamine Yamal gets his second, latching onto a pass from substitute Gabriel Jesus. VAR confirms the goal.
- 81′, Gordon, on as a substitute, rounds off the scoring with a goal assisted by Rodri, before Mariano Díaz pulls one back for Alaves three minutes later.
Tactical Breakdown
Barcelona’s dominance was near-total. Flick’s side controlled 77% of possession and completed 771 of 833 passes, suffocating Alaves in their own half for long stretches. The hosts generated an xG of 3.24 against just 0.64 for the visitors, with the final scoreline not even flattering the gap in quality. The 4-3-3 pressed high and recycled the ball quickly through midfield, where Fermín was the standout operator, ending the night with a goal and two assists.
The tactical story of the match was largely written in the first half. Pedri picked up a yellow card at the 40th minute and was withdrawn at halftime, with Marc Bernal coming on to maintain midfield control. The change barely disrupted Barcelona’s rhythm. The second substitution wave at the 62nd minute, bringing on Gabriel Jesus for Raphinha and Alejandro Balde for João Cancelo, kept fresh legs on the ball and Jesus immediately contributed an assist for Lamine Yamal’s second.
Alaves, set up in a 4-5-1, were simply overrun. Their midfield had no answer to the pace and movement around them, and with only 242 total passes and an xG of 0.64, they rarely threatened Joan García’s goal. Goalkeeper Sivera made just one save. The consolation goal from Díaz at the 84th minute, after coming on as a substitute, was the only moment of genuine Alaves quality on the night.
Player Ratings
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Verdict
Barcelona’s response to their earlier league defeat was emphatic. The 6-1 win puts them second in La Liga with 27 points, one point behind Atletico Madrid and three ahead of Real Madrid, who have also played ten games. For Alaves, now without a win in four, the night was a reminder of just how wide the gap can be at the top end of the division.
Alaves
Fermín
Lamine Yamal
Raphinha