Raphinha and Lamine Yamal scored twice each as Barcelona routed Deportivo Alavés 6-1 at Camp Nou, with Fermín López and Anthony Gordon also on target. The win returned Hansi Flick’s side to the top of La Liga, two points clear of Atlético Madrid, despite a depleted defence.
Barcelona, Spain: Barcelona lost El Clásico a week ago and answered in emphatic style. They were four goals up by half-time, converted their chances with ruthless efficiency, and moved back to the top of the table on a night when a makeshift back line barely mattered.
Four before the break
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 8th minute, finishing a move started by Fermín López. Fermín made it 2-0 in the 23rd, running onto Yamal’s pass and finishing from a tight angle. Raphinha added his second in the 41st, a left-footed finish after another pass from Fermín, taking his league tally to 15 goals this season. Yamal then struck in first-half stoppage time with a mid-range shot, and the half ended 4-0.
Alavés, without a win in their previous seven matches, never found an answer to the interplay between Fermín, Yamal and Raphinha.
Yamal and Gordon complete the rout
Yamal got his second just after the hour, chipping the goalkeeper. The goal was first ruled out for offside, but a VAR review allowed it to stand. Gordon, on as a substitute, added a sixth in the 81st minute, again finishing with a chip. Mariano Díaz scored a late consolation for Alavés in the 84th minute with a low, quick shot after entering the box.
Barcelona played without several first-choice defenders. Flick used Frenkie de Jong at centre-back and started Fariñas at right-back, and the makeshift back line was rarely tested.
Back on top
The win lifted Barcelona above Atlético Madrid, who beat Levante 2-0 earlier on Saturday for a seventh straight league win. Real Madrid, who beat Barcelona 2-1 in El Clásico at Camp Nou last weekend, are third. Alavés sit 10th.
Barcelona next face Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday, before an away trip to Atlético Madrid in La Liga the following weekend.
Result: Barcelona 6-1 Deportivo Alavés (La Liga, Camp Nou). Barcelona: Raphinha 8’, 41’; Fermín López 23’; Yamal 45+1’, 65’; Gordon 81’. Alavés: Mariano Díaz 84’. Half-time: 4-0. Barcelona top La Liga, two points clear of Atlético Madrid.
