“In the final seconds of the first half, Alavés were awarded a corner after Alejandro Baldé conceded. Antonio Blanco's header from the corner picked out Ibrahim Diabaté, who powered a right-footed finish from the center of the box into the left corner to give Alavés a stunning 1-0 lead at the break.”
Pivotal“Marcus Rashford was booked in the first minute of the second half for a foul, giving an early indication of Barcelona's frustration as they chased an equaliser they never found.”
“Barcelona's manager made a triple substitution — Xavi Espart, Ferran Torres, and Pedri all entered simultaneously — a clear statement of intent to unlock a stubborn Alavés backline that had kept a dominant side without a shot on target.”
“João Cancelo received a second yellow card in the closing minutes, compounding Barcelona's miserable evening and leaving them to see out the final moments a man down with no equaliser in sight.”
Deportivo Alavés
FC Barcelona
Deportivo Alavés executed a near-perfect defensive gameplan to hand FC Barcelona a damaging defeat that will have serious implications for their season. With just 23% possession and nine shots to Barcelona's eight, Alavés did almost nothing with the ball — but they didn't need to. A first-half corner, nodded on by Antonio Blanco and converted by Ibrahim Diabaté right on the stroke of half-time, proved to be the difference. The genuinely alarming statistic for Barcelona is that despite 77% possession, 676 passes, and 60 dangerous attacks, they registered zero shots on target across the entire ninety minutes — a staggering failure of execution that Alavés goalkeeper barely needed to break sweat, making only three saves. The second half brought wave after wave of Barcelona pressure, with manager turning to the bench with three changes at the hour mark — Xavi Espart, Ferran Torres, and Pedri all introduced simultaneously — but the reorganised side could not convert their dominance into clear chances, with big chances created sitting at zero. For Alavés, this is the kind of result that secures a season; for Barcelona, shipping a set-piece goal and failing to muster a single shot on target represents a crisis in clinical finishing at exactly the wrong moment in the campaign.
How entertaining was this match?
João CanceloYellow CardJoão Cancelo of Barcelona receives a yellow card for a foul.
Ángel Pérez of Alaves won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by João Cancelo - Barcelona.
Aitor Mañas from Alaves committed a foul.
Jules Koundé of Barcelona won a free kick in defense.
Substitution for Barcelona: Tomás Marqués replaces Marc Bernal.
Corner awarded to Alaves after Álvaro Cortés concedes.
Toni Martínez of Alaves commits a foul.
Álvaro Cortés from Barcelona won a free kick in defense.
Abde RebbachYellow CardAbde Rebbach of Alaves receives a yellow card.
Marcus Rashford of Barcelona won a free kick in an attacking position.
Foul committed by Abde Rebbach of Alaves.
Substitution for Alaves: Carlos Protesoni replaces Victor Parada.
Substitution for Barcelona: João Cancelo replaces Alejandro Balde.
Pedri from Barcelona won a free kick in an attacking position.
Offside called against Alaves. Ángel Pérez is offside.
Toni Martínez from Alaves won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Jules Koundé - Barcelona.
Marcus Rashford of Barcelona won a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Abde Rebbach of Alaves.
Toni Martínez of Alaves is flagged for offside.
Antonio Blanco's shot from outside the box for Alaves is blocked.
Antonio Blanco from Alaves committed a foul.
Ferran Torres of Barcelona won a free kick in defense.
Substitution for Alaves: Pablo Ibáñez replaces Denis Suárez.
Substitution for Alaves: Aitor Mañas replaces Ibrahim Diabate.
Marc Bernal from Barcelona missed a chance with a left-footed shot from outside the box. The assist was provided by Pedri.
Substitution for Barcelona: Pedri replaces Marc Casadó.
Substitution for Barcelona: Ferran Torres replaces Roony Bardghji.
Substitution for Barcelona: Xavi Espart replaces Pau Cubarsí.
Dani Olmo from Barcelona had a missed chance, shooting with his right foot from outside the box but missing to the left. Alejandro Balde provided the assist.
Jules Koundé from Barcelona won a free kick on the right wing.
Marc Casadó from Barcelona won a free kick in an attacking position.
Antonio Blanco from Alaves committed a foul.
Marc Bernal from Barcelona won a free kick in defense.
Toni Martínez from Alaves committed a foul.
Barcelona wins a corner after Ángel Pérez concedes.
Corner awarded to Barcelona after Abde Rebbach concedes.
New attacking attempt. Ibrahim Diabate of Alaves heads the ball from the center of the box, but Wojciech Szczesny of Barcelona saves it in the right corner. The assist came from Abde Rebbach with a cross.
Offside called against Alaves. Nahuel Tenaglia is offside.
Marcus RashfordYellow CardMarcus Rashford of Barcelona receives a yellow card for a foul.
Nahuel Tenaglia from Alaves won a free kick on the right wing.
The second half starts with the score at Alaves 1, Barcelona 0.
The first half ends with Alaves leading Barcelona 1-0.
assist: Antonio Blanco
Goal! Alaves lead 1-0 against Barcelona. Ibrahim Diabate scores with a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the left corner, assisted by Antonio Blanco's header following a corner.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
Corner awarded to Alaves after Alejandro Balde concedes.
Nahuel Tenaglia of Alaves attempts an attack with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but Wojciech Szczesny of Barcelona makes a save in the center of the goal. The assist comes from Antonio Blanco.
Foul committed by Marc Bernal of Barcelona.
Ibrahim Diabate from Alaves won a free kick in defense.
Ángel Pérez's right-footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. The assist was provided by Antonio Blanco.
Nahuel Tenaglia from Alaves commits a foul.
Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona won a free kick in an attacking position.
Marcus Rashford had a missed chance for Barcelona, shooting with his right foot from long distance on the left, just missing the goal. The assist came from Marc Casadó.
Ángel Pérez from Alaves commits a foul.
Roony Bardghji from Barcelona won a free kick in defense.
Corner awarded to Alaves after Alejandro Balde concedes.
Victor Parada from Alaves was awarded a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Roony Bardghji of Barcelona.
Corner awarded to Alaves after Álvaro Cortés concedes.
Abde Rebbach from Alaves had a missed chance, shooting with his right foot from outside the box, but it went close and missed the target.
Toni Martínez from Alaves missed a chance, shooting with his right foot from the center of the box to the left. Ángel Pérez provided the assist with a cross.
Corner awarded to Barcelona after Ville Koski concedes.
Marc Casadó's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. The assist came from Dani Olmo with a through ball.
Marc Bernal of Barcelona won a free kick in defense.
Toni Martínez from Alaves committed a foul.
Marcus Rashford of Barcelona won a free kick in defense.
Ángel Pérez from Alaves committed a foul.
Corner awarded to Alaves after Pau Cubarsí concedes.
Jon Guridi from Alaves won a free kick in defense.
Marc Casadó from Barcelona committed a foul.
Toni Martínez from Alaves misses a chance, shooting with his right foot from the center of the box, sending the ball high and wide to the right. The assist came from Jon Guridi with a cross.
Marcus Rashford's shot from the center of the box is blocked. The assist came from Roony Bardghji's cross.
Barcelona wins a corner after Ville Koski concedes.
Dani Olmo's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The assist came from Marc Casadó.
Marcus Rashford had a missed chance for Barcelona, shooting with his right foot from the left side of the box, but it went just left of the goal. The assist came from Jules Koundé's cross.
Missed chance for Barcelona. Roony Bardghji's right-footed shot from the right side of the box goes wide to the left, assisted by Dani Olmo.
Foul committed by Abde Rebbach of Alaves.
Roony Bardghji of Barcelona won a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Marc Casadó of Barcelona.
Nahuel Tenaglia of Alaves won a free kick in defense.
Alaves win a corner after Dani Olmo concedes.
Ibrahim Diabate's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. The assist came from Antonio Blanco's cross.
The first half begins.
FC Barcelona travel to Vitoria-Gasteiz with 88 points and a commanding La Liga lead, looking to extend their title-winning campaign against a Deportivo Alavés side desperately battling relegation. With the hosts sitting 18th and just three points above the drop zone, every point is a lifeline — making this a classic clash of ambitions.
