Alaves edge Barcelona in La Liga as Flick’s rotated side face point target jeopardy
Barcelona’s pursuit of 100 points is under threat after Alaves took the lead, while the home side moves clear of the relegation zone.
Alaves have taken a crucial step in their battle for survival, moving out of the relegation places after taking the lead against Barcelona at Mendizorroza. The result places significant pressure on the league champions’ ambition to reach 100 points, a target now in jeopardy following the first-half setback.
Ibrahim Diabate provided the decisive moment for the home side, volleying home from a corner kick just before the interval. The goal gave Alaves the advantage at half-time and offered a substantial boost to their hopes of avoiding relegation from La Liga.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick implemented a number of changes to his starting lineup for the trip to Vitoria. The squad included starts for Wojciech Szczesny, Alejandro Balde, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casado, reflecting a rotated approach to the fixture.
The absence of key players Eric Garcia and Pedri was noted as a factor affecting the team’s composition. Despite these omissions, the source indicates that Barcelona competed well during the first half, maintaining a strong presence in the match.
While the league title has already been secured by Barcelona, the focus has shifted to their point tally. The concession of a goal to Alaves complicates their pursuit of a historic total, leaving them to manage the remainder of the match with the knowledge that their maximum point potential has been reduced.
