Barcelona returned to Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday for LaLiga EA Sports matchday 11 and beat Alavés 6-1, according to Mediotiempo. The hosts had entered the fixture on a two-match losing run and used the home match to end it.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 8th minute and added a second in the 41st. Fermín López scored in the 23rd, and Lamine Yamal struck in the 46th and again in the 64th. Anthony Gordon scored in the 81st, and Mariano Díaz completed the scoring in the 84th, Mediotiempo reported.
Mediotiempo described the result as Barcelona rediscovering the victory and showing no mercy against Alavés. MARCA, in its own coverage of the match, wrote that Barça looked like its old self again.
Why it matters
The win carries weight beyond the scoreline. According to Mediotiempo, Barcelona came into the match after a 4-2 defeat to PSG in the Champions League and a 1-2 loss to Real Madrid in the Clásico. That Clásico result dropped the club to second place in LaLiga on 27 points, one behind Atlético in first.
Alavés arrived with its own problems. Mediotiempo reports that Quique Sánchez's side had drawn 1-1 with Málaga and had gone six consecutive matches without a win — four defeats and two draws — leaving the club seventh on 12 points, five behind Sevilla in sixth.
A squad stretched thin
Barcelona's team selection drew attention before kickoff. ESPN México reported that Hansi Flick's squad list for the Alavés match included six absences and three academy players. Mediotiempo also noted that Barcelona had lost Xavi Espart to injury for the remainder of the season.
Raphinha's record night
Raphinha's two goals put him alongside a historic mark. Yahoo reported that the Brazilian equaled a record held by Lionel Messi, with only Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of him on the list in question.
The match was played at Spotify Camp Nou, with kickoff listed for 21:00 local time, according to Mediotiempo. The outlet also noted that betting odds for the fixture shifted before and during the game, a reminder that pre-match numbers rarely hold once play begins.
Barcelona's next task is to show the performance was not a one-off as the LaLiga schedule continues.
