Barcelona will be LaLiga champions if Atletico Madrid lose at home to Valencia after Ernesto Valverde's side won 2-0 at Alaves.
Match Report
Carles Alena and Luis Suarez scored as Barcelona took another big step towards defending their LaLiga title with a 2-0 win at Deportivo Alaves.
Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were among the stars named on the bench by Ernesto Valverde, who rested Ivan Rakitic entirely, but Barca eased to victory at Mendizorroza on Tuesday.
Alena and Suarez struck within the space of six second-half minutes to boost Barca ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash with Liverpool next week.
The Catalan giants will be confirmed as LaLiga champions for the eighth time in 11 seasons should nearest rivals Atletico Madrid lose at home to Valencia on Wednesday.
Match Events
6' Double chance for Barca!
Coutinho plays a throughball to Suarez who is running into the box and he takes a touch before aiming his shot on target. Pacheco gets down well to save it but the rebound bounces to Coutinho, whose effort is blocked by Ely.
29' Suarez with a great chance!
He pulls off the back of his defender once again, this time on the right side of the box, and he drives his shot low towards the far, bottom corner, but Pacheco gets down well to deny him and put the ball out of play.
54' GOAL! Alaves 0-1 Barcelona (Alena)
The ball is worked into the box very quickly by Barcelona and Alena just pulls away from his defender to receive it near the penalty spot. He quickly glances up before calmly curling his shot around the keeper and into the bottom corner. 1-0 Barcelona!
60' Penalty Goal! Alaves 0-2 Barcelona (Suarez)
He confidently steps up to the penalty spot and strikes his ball to the left of the goal and over the top of Pacheco's outstretched arm to double Barcelona's advantage. 2-0 Barca!
70' CLOSE! Messi's shot saved
He does brilliantly to keep the ball as he dribbles past two Alaves defenders and get into the box. He does stumble slightly but stays on his feet as he takes his shot from a tight angle and Pacheco does really well to push the ball onto the post to deny him.
sayantanpatra
824
Another treble is loading.... 😉😉😊
Trevorn
572
Spain and barca has a new operator on their hands. Carles Alena🔥🔥🔥
Williej
159
we caмe,we ѕaw and we conqυered . ғorca вarca! oυr мιdғιelderѕ and deғenderѕ нave вeen on тнe ѕcore ѕнeeтѕ laтely. ιмpreѕѕιve! we dιdn'т need oυr capтaιn тoday. deмвele ѕнoυld нave played мore and мeѕѕι ѕнoυld нave reѕтed. we were coмғorтaвly ιn cнarge тнroυgнoυт тнe мaтcн and we goт oυr 3poιnтѕ. ѕee yoυ on ѕaтυrday levanтe
FahimJakaria
148
When haters realized Barca can win without Messi's goals and even assists😂
VanishPrasad
132
Pep : I never should have left Barcelona
VanishPrasad
122
Laliga is a competition where 20 teams compete with each other and in the end Barcelona always wins it
Aaxelll
109
He doesn't tire he knows when to run, how to escape tackle, when to rest on the pitch, he can play week in and out, he can walk on the pitch, he thinks ahead, he gives you key chances, his presence drops your opponent's morale, his just simply phenomenal, allow me to say this i honestly felt nice seeing umtiti finish 90m with no difficult. Alena world class goal... future player very confident. credit: to Ernesto valverde for balancing the team would have loved to see Malcom replace coutinho tho anyways good planning from valverde
VanishPrasad
94
Barcelona are now just one win away from becoming Laliga champions.Theres no hope for Atheltico Madrid at all. Congratulations to Barcelona in advance for their hard work and achievements.
VanishPrasad
84
Just 5 wins away from treble. Barcelona have their chances.
LMSEN
83
They say Arthur and de jong is going to replace and carry on xavi-iniesta's legacy... I say give that opportunity to Alena and Riqi Puig....our LA masia boys can do it better than anyone else... #VISCA_EL_BARCA#MES_QUE_UN_CLUB
sayantanpatra
80
New asset of Barcelona as well as Spain... 😉
rohitgirwal18
74
Jose Mourinho quotes:- ''Messi's position is easy to understand, but it's not easy to create a cage to contain him'' "You have to create a cage around Messi''
EmbraceStarboy
74
The match was supposed to be Alaves against Barca but all we saw was Vidal against Wakasu😂
Mushtaqmm7
69
Messi Should Not Play These Half hearted Matches. Rest is Better for Him
hookorst
63
with this Alena performance. De joung need to really work hard. Good job from Barcelona players. But the coach made wrong changes. MESSI should have been rested after two zoro lead.and some other mistakes he made on his changes not really beautiful!!!
Kuscm
52
i'm a big barca fan...but i don't get why some of u are praising messi when they won the game without him. give others their praise where is due.
Apostle1
50
Alena is my man of the match. his ball control, vision for passes n scored a superb goal.
Musamessi
50
the beauty of tonights game was the BEAST love the way he plays on and off the ball and he will be very much needed in the next big matches
Mr_koded
46
This match is amazing with Alaves using five defender yet conceeded 2 goals and with the changes in Barca squad too. Barca is too much of a team. I wasn't surprise if our team B can stop Huesca senior team from scoring a single goal I'm sure Barca is well guided. Alaves really don't need to be like that playing defensively again Best team at least Alaves still have Europa next season. We gonna win HATRICK TREBLE this season. Forca Barca.
giriraj10
45
Umtiti found a little bit of his form today... Alena was a jewel played wonderfully... Vidal was a lion out there... Anyone who watches barca games would understand suarez is a whole lot more than just a striker.... But coutinho was very disappointing, he was lost wasn't really sure what to do & what not hope he will play against Liverpool the way he played against man u.... A few more playing time would bring dembele back to his form.... And good rotation by valvarde... Overall good day I would say..
VanishPrasad
44
The only way to stop Messi from winning any team trophies is by making him wear his national Jersey or by renaming Laliga with Copa Del Rey.
rohitgirwal18
44
Really happy for Alena. Hasn't played as much as he deserves and now got to play almost 90 minutes, played well and even scored the winning goal. If we win our next match or if Atletico Madrid lose tomorrow, the La Liga title is ours
rohitgirwal18
42
football without Messi would be very boring. I am thankful to see him playing and I think am lucky that I came to this world at the right time ...
DaMhztourage
42
That's routine victory for Barcelona as La liga title about to remain at Camp Nou .
rohitgirwal18
35
📊 #Aleñá stats against Alaves: 1 Goals 2 Shots 90 Passes 92.3% pass accuracy 1 Key passes 4 Long balls completed 5 Duels won 2 Fouls won 1 dribbles completed 1 Tackles
Longlife2000
34
we move 3 points closer to the league title, if atlético lose tomorrow, we automatically win la Liga. If they win, we have to win our next match to win la liga.