Barcelona hit six past Alavés at Camp Nou as Flick’s side return to La Liga summit

Yamal added his second in the 64th minute to make it 5-0, and Anthony Gordon got in on the act late on with Barcelona’s sixth in the 81st. Alavés’ response was limited to a consolation from Mariano Díaz in the 84th minute.

A lopsided night on the numbers

The match was as one-sided statistically as the scoreline suggested. Barcelona had 77% possession to Alavés’ 23%, completing 822 passes at 93% accuracy. Alavés finished with 233 passes at 82%.

Barcelona took 13 shots to Alavés’ five, and hit the target seven times compared with three for the visitors. The game also brought a flurry of cautions, with Barcelona shown two yellow cards and Alavés three.

For Flick, the performance mattered as much as the points. Barcelona had been looking for a response after back-to-back defeats, and the speed with which they established control gave the evening its tone. The hosts pressed high, recycled the ball quickly, and repeatedly found Yamal and Raphinha in space to attack one-on-one.

One of the more unusual subplots came in the back line. With injuries limiting Flick’s defensive options, Barcelona used Frenkie de Jong and 20-year-old Brian Fariñas in defensive roles, with Fariñas making his official first-team debut at right-back despite being a midfielder by trade.

Fariñas’ on-ball output stood out. He logged 115 touches, completed 101 passes and attempted 104, misplacing only three for a 97.1% passing success rate. Much of his work came in combination with Yamal on the right, helping Barcelona keep Alavés pinned back and stretching the pitch for runs in behind.

Flick manages minutes, eyes next tests

Flick’s post-match comments pointed to the schedule ahead and the balancing act of keeping key players fresh. Yamal, who scored twice, was substituted after 74 minutes.

“When you score two goals, it’s easier to go out,” Flick said. “I spoke with him at half time [about managing his minutes]. For us, that he has the confidence back with the one vs. one situations, more time and minutes in the second half [is good], but it also important he has less minutes.

“For Lamine it was a great game, but it was good to see the level of the attack: Fermín, Rapha. This is what I want to see after these two defeats. How we react, it was good and in the right way.”

The coach also addressed the improvised defensive setup, acknowledging the strain injuries have placed on his selections. “At the moment we have to think,” he said, as he discussed the use of de Jong and Fariñas in defence.

The win, and the manner of it, offered a reset. Barcelona’s front line looked sharp, the midfield controlled tempo, and the team’s chance creation was steady rather than frantic. Even with the late concession, the match rarely slipped from their grip.

What’s next for Barcelona and Alavés

Barcelona’s calendar does not ease up. The club’s next major test comes in the Champions League, with Aston Villa due at the Camp Nou on Tuesday. Villa arrive with three wins from three in the competition this season, while Barcelona’s unbeaten start in Europe ended in a loss away to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday three.

In La Liga, the teams will meet again later in the season. The reverse fixture is scheduled for 24 January at Mendizorroza, with the kickoff time still to be confirmed.

For Alavés, the trip to Barcelona was punishing, and the challenge now is to stabilise after being overwhelmed for long stretches. Mariano’s late goal at least prevented a shutout, but the visitors were largely forced to chase the ball and defend deep as Barcelona’s possession game wore them down.

The table picture beyond Barcelona’s return to first place was not detailed in the available match data, but the message from this result was plain: after a wobble, Barcelona’s response was emphatic, and their attack looked in no mood to wait for easier opponents.