Flick disappointed not to reach 100 points but thrilled with Barca's youngsters

Hansi Flick expressed his disappointment that Barcelona would not hit 100 LaLiga points this season, but was left impressed by his team's young talent against Alaves. 

After winning the title following last week's Clasico win over Real Madrid, Barcelona were brought back down to earth at Estadio de Mendizorroza with a 1-0 defeat.

Ibrahim Diabate's strike in first-half stoppage time was enough to beat a Barcelona side that featured eight changes from their title-winning triumph over their arch-rivals. 

Wednesday's result means Real Madrid's class of 2011-12 and Barcelona the following season are the only two teams to ever hit a century of points in a single LaLiga campaign. 

Barcelona can only reach 97, while their 11-match winning run in the top flight was also ended, as Flick failed to match Pep Guardiola (16), Frank Rijkaard (14) and Luis Enrique as the only Blaugrana coaches to achieve a winning run of 12 games or more in the competition.

"Yes, I'm disappointed. But we have to accept it. I'm left with the fact that we've seen good things from the team," Flick said. 

"We wanted to give some playing time to the players who'd had less of it. In the first half, we controlled the game, but it wasn't an easy night. 

"We wanted to win and reach 100 points. It wasn't possible, but I've told the players that I saw things I liked in their performance."

One of the biggest talking points from the match was the debut of young defender Alvaro Cortes, who put in a composed display in the Barcelona defence. 

The 21-year-old finished with team-high totals for touches (109), accurate passes (88), aerial duels won (five) and clearances (five), while only Marc Bernal (nine) won more duels than the Spaniard's eight.

Cortes was not the only La Masia graduate singled out for praise by Flick, with Marc Casado, Xavi Espart, Tomas Marques and Bernal also mentioned by the Barcelona boss. 

"It was his first match. I saw him looking confident on the ball. He made his debut because of how he trains," Flick said of Cortes' performance. 

"That's what I want to see from Barca players. That they give their all in training with the first team and play well for the reserves. I liked what I saw, and that's why he played.

"Alvaro played a fantastic match, Espart came on and did well.

"Tommy got some playing time, and Bernal is back and performing at a high level. It was also important for Casado to play."

Barcelona's final two games of the season are against Real Betis at home this Sunday before travelling to take on Valencia on May 23.