Despite being in a poor moment, Barcelona have continued their good form in La Liga with a 3-1 victory over Alaves in Vitoria. It is the Catalans’ fifth win out of their last six matches in the competition.
Match Report
Barcelona’s Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque scored and was sent off in just 13 minutes after coming off the bench in his team’s 3-1 win over Alaves.
First the 18-year-old made it to two goals in two games and then he picked up two quick yellows, the second extremely harsh as Xavi’s team won in Vitoria.
His goal gave Barcelona decisive breathing space after Alaves had pulled a goal back having gone 2-0 down. It was a well worked goal with Lamine Yamal starting the move down the right and Hector Fort helping Roque finish it with a cross from the left.
Then came those two quick cards – the second with him pulling out of a challenge on Rafa Marin who had slid in studs up. It looked more like a foul from the Alaves player than the Barça one but Juan Martínez Munuera sent Roque off.
It will only add to Xavi’s theories about the referees being against his team. He angrily claimed the league was rigged in the build-up to the match. The referee was behind the play and it was a second yellow the video-assisted referee could not intervene.
Xavi had surprised everyone with his starting line-up playing Andreas Christensen in midfield with Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan. It looked like an experiment to see what the Dane could in the holding position but it was De Jong who played there and Christensen was floating in midfield looking somewhat confused by his role.
Alaves had the better of the opening exchanges and might have been given a penalty inside the first minute. Pau Cubarsi brought down Alex Sola but a tight offside call saw a free-kick given to Barcelona.
Samuel Omorodion, who scored against Barcelona in the return fixture earlier in the season, then glanced a header just wide.
But it was Barcelona who took the lead on 22 minutes when Robert Lewandowski took a through ball from Gundogan in his stride and clipped a shot past Antonio Sivera. It was a smart finish from what was the German’s ninth assist of the season in all competitions.
Alaves finished the half strongly and Jon Guridi’s header drew a fine save from Inaki Pena. Samu then volleyed wide of the post.
Barcelona went two up after the break with Gundogan hooking a volley over his shoulder and into the roof of Sivera’s net. It was a clever finish and his fifth goal for Barcelona of the season.
Alaves weren’t out of it though and finally Samu found his range heading the excellent Sola’s cross in to make it 1-2. Then Roque came on and sealed the winner before the harsh dismissal made the last 20 minutes more uncomfortable for Barcelona than they might otherwise have been.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' Highlight from Alaves vs Barcelona
11' Araujo's header stopped
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16' Cancelo's shot stopped
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21' Omorodion's header wide out
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22' GOAL! Alaves 0-1 Barcelona (Robert Lewandowski)
35' BIG save from Iñaki Peña!!
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42' Samu shoots just wide
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46' Highlight from Alaves vs Barcelona
48' Match Event for Alaves vs Barcelona
49' Beautiful assist from Pedri and Gundogan to finish it off! Alaves 0-2 Barcelona
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51' GOAL! Alaves 1-2 Barcelona (Samu Omorodion)
63' GOAL! Alaves 1-3 Barcelona (Vitor Roque)
72' Vitor Roque is booked for the second time and is sent off!
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Line-ups
Alaves XI: Duarte, Rioja, Guridi, Sivera, Álex Sola, Ander Guevara, Nahuel Tenaglia, Antonio Blanco, Javi López, Rafa Marín, Samu Omorodion
Subs: I.Hagi, Carlos Benavidez, Xeber Alkain, Abdel Abqar, Adrián Rodríguez, Jesús Owono, Victor Parada, Abde Rebbach, Giuliano Simeone, Tomas Mendes, Joaquín Panichelli, Egoitz Muñoz
Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, Gundogan, Cancelo, Christensen, Pena, De Jong, Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí
Subs: Romeu, I. Martinez, Marc Casadó, Pau Víctor, Fermín López, Ander Astralaga, Vitor Roque, Unai Hernández, Héctor Fort, Diego Kochen, Marc Guiu
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