Barcelona delivered a commanding performance to secure a 3-1 victory against Deportivo Alaves in La Liga, temporarily claiming the top spot in the standings during their 126th-anniversary celebrations. The match saw Dani Olmo emerge as the hero with two crucial goals at the partially reconstructed Camp Nou stadium.
Early Shock and Swift Response
The game began with a stunning development as Pablo Ibanez gave Alaves a surprise lead within the first minute of play. Ibanez capitalized on Marc Casado's failed corner clearance and an assist from Victor Parada to stun the home crowd. However, Barcelona demonstrated remarkable resilience, quickly responding through their young sensation Lamine Yamal, who equalized from Raphinha's assist after the Brazilian's return from injury.
Olmo's Brilliance Seals Victory
Dani Olmo put Barcelona ahead midway through the first half with assistance from Raphinha, showcasing excellent coordination between the attackers. The Spanish international later sealed the victory with a late goal in stoppage time, assisted by Yamal, completing an impressive brace. Barcelona now leads Real Madrid by two points in the standings, with Real Madrid scheduled to face Girona on Sunday.
Joan Garcia made an impressive save to prevent Calebe from scoring for Alaves, while Yamal nearly increased Barcelona's advantage but hit the post after getting past goalkeeper Antonio Sivera. Lucas Boye came close to equalizing for Alaves before halftime, but Pau Cubarsi made a crucial block to deny the attempt later in the game.
Team Changes and Fan Moments
Barcelona played without key defenders Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong, while Jules Kounde was benched following his own goal against Chelsea in the Champions League. The return of Pedri Gonzalez as a substitute in the second half was warmly welcomed by the 45,000 spectators in the three operational stands. Marc Bernal made his first start since August 2024 after recovering from knee surgery.
Reflecting on the performance, Olmo told DAZN: "They caught us a bit by surprise in the first minute, but the team came back well from that situation, keeping our idea of how to play. We got the first, then the second, we dominated and got the win. It's a dream come true to be able to play here, to score and help the team to win."
Alaves defender Jonny Otto acknowledged his team's effort, stating: "We couldn't keep our lead but after that we had our chances. It's not easy to make Barca end up asking for the final whistle." The victory marks Barcelona's fourth consecutive league win following their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League, providing a significant morale boost for the Catalan giants.
