VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 03: Ilkay Gundogan of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his teams second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Deportivo Alaves and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Mendizorroza on February 03, 2024 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
FC Barcelona moved up to third spot on the LALIGA table after defeating Alaves 3-1 on Saturday night.
LaLiga
Result: Alaves 1-3 Barcelona
Date: 03 February 2024
Venue: Estadio de Mendizorroza
Xavi Hernandez made just one change from the win over Osasuna, As Andreas Christensen was brought in for the injured Ferran Torres as Pedri moved into an advanced role in the attack.
The defending champions entered the clash ten points behind league leaders Real Madrid and were in danger of dropping out of the top four if they did not get the desire result.
That Catalan giants got the breakthrough after 22 minutes as Ilkay Gundogan threaded a neat through-ball for Robert Lewandowski, who lobbed the on-rushing Antonio Sivera.
The home side went close to bagging the equaliser ten minutes before the halftime break when Lopez did well to pick out Jon Guiridi in the box, but the forward saw his header brilliantly turned away by goalkeeper Inaki Pena.
The lead was doubled after the halftime break as Gundogan added his name to the score-sheet by getting on the end of Pedri’s pass before sending a fine half-volley past Sivera.
Alves did pull a goal back two minutes later as some superb work by Alex Sola down the right flank ended with Samu Omorodion sending a powerful header past Pena at the near post.
However, Barcelona restored their two-goal cushion after the hour mark when substitute Vitor Roque made two goals in two games with a composed finish from close range after being teed up by Héctor Fort.
Roque went from hero to villain ten minutes later when the young Brazilian forward was given his marching orders after picking up his second yellow in the space of five minutes.
Despite being a man down, Xavi’s side were able to see out the closing stages to secure a second straight win this week, leaving the side seven points behind Los Blancos who face Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Click here to register!
