Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga with a 6-1 victory over Alaves at Camp Nou on Saturday, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal each scoring twice. The result restored their two-point advantage over Atletico Madrid and provided a response to two damaging defeats in the preceding week.
Hansi Flick’s team entered the match after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and then suffering a home defeat against Real Madrid in last weekend’s El Clasico. Against Alaves, Barcelona took control before halftime. Raphinha scored twice, with a Fermin Lopez goal between his strikes, before Yamal added another just before the break.
Yamal scored his second midway through the second half, and substitute Anthony Gordon made it six with a chipped finish. Mariano Diaz subsequently scored for the visitors. Speaking to Movistar, Lopez described the week as difficult and said Camp Nou, with the backing of Barcelona’s supporters, was the ideal place to respond. He also praised the influence of Yamal and Raphinha on the team.
The defeat left Alaves without a victory in seven matches, although they remained 10th in the standings. Midfielder Ander Guevara urged his side to move on quickly and avoid alarm, acknowledging their poor run while describing the squad as mature and humble. Barcelona next host Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday before travelling to Atletico the following Sunday for a meeting between the league’s top two teams.
Earlier on Saturday, Atletico had briefly moved one point above Barcelona by beating Levante 2-0 in Valencia. Alejandro Grimaldo and Giuliano Simeone scored as Diego Simeone’s side secured a seventh successive league victory, maintaining pressure on the reigning champions before Barcelona’s later win.
Alex Baena supplied the assists for both Atletico goals and was the visitors’ principal creative influence. The result was Diego Simeone’s 344th La Liga victory as Atletico coach, equalling the club record held by Luis Aragones. Simeone, who took charge in 2011, credited the players who had worked with him over the years for the achievement.
Simeone told Movistar he was pleased with his team’s performance but stressed that the season still had a long way to go and that Atletico would continue approaching it one match at a time. Third-placed Real Madrid, coached by Jose Mourinho, were due to visit Racing Santander among Sunday’s fixtures.
Each of Saturday’s matches began with a minute’s silence to remember the 69 people killed in Wednesday’s train crash in the province of Toledo.
