Six days after Barcelona dropped a 1-2 El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid at Camp Nou, Hansi Flick’s side get a chance to reset against Alaves on October 31. For Lamine Yamal, the timing is almost ideal. The teenager has been the most electric presence in La Liga this season, sitting joint-second in the scoring charts with 8 goals, and a home match against a side that has won just three times in ten league games is the kind of fixture that allows him to rebuild rhythm and confidence after the frustration of losing to their fiercest rival.
Lamine Yamal’s recent form
Yamal’s numbers through ten La Liga matchdays have been striking. His 8 goals put him among the division’s most productive forwards, behind only his own teammate Raphinha, who leads the chart with 13, and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe on 11. That kind of output from a wide attacker who uses the right flank as his primary corridor speaks to how central he has become to Flick’s offensive structure.
In the 5-2 win at Real Betis on October 17, Barcelona demonstrated the kind of attacking freedom Flick’s system allows, and Yamal’s directness on the ball is one of the main reasons that win was so comfortable. The El Clasico reverse, where Barcelona created enough but couldn’t convert at the right moments, will sting, but the underlying pattern of his season remains positive.
The tactical matchup
Alaves arrive at Camp Nou without a win in their last four games. Their recent form reads DLLD across those fixtures, with defeats to Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid and a draw at home to Malaga. Quique Sanchez Flores has struggled to find consistency, and his side has conceded in nearly every recent outing.
For Yamal, the opportunity is straightforward. Alaves’ right side, likely covered by Jonny or Hugo Novoa depending on the setup Sanchez Flores deploys, will face a player running at full pace in a system designed to get him the ball early. Barcelona’s wide attackers thrive when given space to cut inside or drive the line, and Alaves’ defensive record of 11 goals conceded in 10 games suggests they are not exactly airtight at the back.
What’s at stake for him
At this stage of the season, Yamal is building a case that he is no longer a spectacular prospect but a consistent match-winner. Raphinha’s 13-goal haul is currently the headline from Barcelona’s attack, but Yamal at 8 goals in 10 league games is on a pace that few players his age have matched in La Liga history.
The last head-to-head between these clubs at Camp Nou ended 3-1 to Barcelona in November 2025, and the only time Alaves took points off them recently was a 1-0 win in May 2026. Yamal will want to assert himself quickly, both to re-establish the dominance this fixture usually brings and to send a message after the El Clasico setback. Barcelona sit top of La Liga on 27 points and are three points clear of Atletico Madrid, so there is no panic, but losing at home to Real Madrid demands an immediate response.
Key Stats
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Our Prediction
Barcelona should win comfortably at Camp Nou, and the architecture of this matchup sets Yamal up well. Alaves have been leaky and inconsistent, and Flick will likely use this game to restore attacking fluency after the Clasico. If Yamal gets into his rhythm early, goals will follow. A 3-0 or 4-1 scoreline, similar to recent home meetings in this fixture, seems well within range, with Yamal likely to be directly involved in at least one goal.
Alaves
Barcelona
Lamine Yamal