Lamine on the ground after colliding with an Alaves player (©Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Lamine on the ground after colliding with an Alaves player (©Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barca dig deep to edge Alaves, closing the gap to Madrid to four points

Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 02.02.25. | 18:16

Hansi Flick's boys are all of a sudden back in the title race after a close win on Sunday afternoon

Only a week or two ago, it seemed like Barcelona have said goodbye to their title hopes, but the tables have changed dramatically in the meantime.

After last night's Real Madrid shoking loss to Espanyol, the Blaugrana were provided with a chance to close the gap to their archrival to just four points - and they've seized it this Sunday by defeating Alaves at home 1-0.

It was a performance far from impressive from Hansi Flick's boys, embellished with lots of nervousness and yellow cards. Still, the Catalans managed to put one behind the Alaves' keeper to clinch a victory that will be forgotten very soon.

After a disastrous first half, the German tactician made a couple of changes in the midfield, bringing on De Jong and Garcia to replace Casado and Araujo. It paid off almost instantly as Barca looked better and more offensive-oriented, which led to a few chance, with the one for Lamine Yamal being the closest one to goal.

However, it stayed 0-0 on the scoreboard before veteran striker Robert Lewandowski finally stepped up with the breakthrough.

Pedri's cross found Yamal on the far post, and his volley reached Lewa on the back post for a comfortable finish from a close range. It proved to be the deceisive moment of the match, as Barcelona recorded a win that fills La Liga title race with so much drama.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 22

Friday

Leganes - Rayo Vallecano 0-1 (0-0)

/Ciss 78/

Saturday

Getafe - Sevilla 0-0

Villarreal - Valladolid 5-1 (1-0)

/Perez 42, Gueye 64, Comesana 70, Barry 86, Suarez 90+1 - Amallah 90+4/

Atl.Madrid - Mallorca 2-0 (1-0)

/Lino 26, Griezmann 90+3/

Espanyol - Real Madrid 1-0 (0-0)

/Romero 85/

Sunday

Barcelona - Alaves 1-0 (0-0)

18.15: (2.35) Valencia (3.25) Celta (3.15)

20.30: (2.95) Osasuna (3.00) Sociedad (2.65)

23.00: (3.05) Betis (3.15) Ath.Bilbao (2.45)

Monday

23.00: (1.70) Girona (3.60) Las Palmas (5.30)

***odds are subject to change***



tags

BarcelonaDeportivo AlavesLa LigaLamine Yamal

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