Traveling to Alavés, FC Barcelona needed to follow up with a new victory in the league this Saturday for the 23rd day of La Liga. Relegated ten points behind their rival, Real Madrid, solid leader on the other side of the Pyrenees, the Catalans absolutely had to win in a good manner to regain confidence in their game. And from the first minutes of play, the The flock of a pointed Xavi sometimes seemed sluggish.
Very quickly, Pedri’s teammates finally regained control of possession. Calm, Barça therefore logically opened the scoring on their first real opportunity. Found in the area by Ilkay Gündoğan, Robert Lewandowski coolly concluded this great opportunity with a clever dive (0-1, 22nd). It was then that Alavés pushed to get back into the game. Very mobile on the attacking front, Samu Omorodion was not very skillful in front of goal on two occasions (23rd, 42nd) while Inaki Pena, Marc-André Ter Stegen’s replacement, was impeccable against to opposing attempts (35th). At the break, FC Barcelona, clinical, then returned to the locker room with a narrow advantage.
The incredible entry into play of Vitor Roque
The match clearly got heated at the start of the second half. While Rioja could have brought the two teams back up to par at the first opportunity of the second act (48th), it was Ilkay Gündoğan who gave the Catalans the break with a superb volley (0-2, 49th). A comfortable lead of a few seconds: on the following action, the impressive Samu Omorodion reduced the gap with a powerful header (1-2, 50th). With the entry into play of Vitor Roque in the 59th minute in place of Gundogan hit in the back, the match took a new turn.
Liga live ranking
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#
|
Team
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Pts
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J
|
DIF
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G
|
NOT
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D
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BP
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B.C.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
|
57 |
22 |
33 |
18 |
3 |
1 |
47 |
14 |
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2 |
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55 |
22 |
27 |
17 |
4 |
1 |
52 |
25 |
|
3 |
|
50 |
23 |
17 |
15 |
5 |
3 |
47 |
30 |
|
4 |
|
47 |
22 |
20 |
15 |
2 |
5 |
44 |
24 |
|
5 |
|
45 |
23 |
21 |
13 |
6 |
4 |
42 |
21 |
|
6 |
|
36 |
22 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
32 |
21 |
See the full ranking
Very involved, El Tigrinho completed the success of his team after a magnificent collective action (1-3, 63rd). After giving FC Barcelona a victory against Osasuna in the middle of the week (0-1), Roque made a dream debut in his new colors. Ultimately too involved, the young Brazilian striker was finally sent off for a second yellow card in the 72nd minute of play. Despite this numerical inferiority, Barça went for a well-rounded victory at Alavés. A success which temporarily allows them to move up to third place in the ranking. Deportivo drops to twelfth place.
