Barcelona 1 – 0 Alavés
After losing points in four consecutive matches, Barcelona secured their second consecutive victory, reducing the gap to the top of the table from 7 points to just 4.
After a lackluster first half, Barcelona played better in the second half, with Robert Lewandowski scoring the winning goal. By defeating relegation-threatened Alavés, Barcelona closed the gap with Real Madrid in the league standings.
In the La Liga match at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, Barcelona won 1-0.
Following Real Madrid’s loss to Espanyol the day before, the gap between the two clubs is now just 4 points.
With 14 wins and 3 draws from 22 matches, Barcelona has 45 points, sitting in third place. Atlético Madrid is in second with 48 points, while Real Madrid tops the table with 49 points.
Barcelona dominated possession from the start and had their first chance in the 6th minute. Lamine Yamal, breaking through the opposition’s defense, passed to the left, but Rafinha’s shot went wide.
In the next minute, Barcelona’s Gavi and Alavés’ Tomás Konecheni collided, leaving the game paused for a long time. Konecheni was taken off the field on a stretcher. Gavi tried to continue playing, but was substituted for Fermín López.
In the 30th minute, Barcelona had another opportunity, but Lewandowski couldn’t properly shoot from inside the box. In the 43rd minute, Pedri’s shot from outside the box was saved by the goalkeeper—Barcelona’s first shot on target.
In the first half, Barcelona managed just three shots, one on target. Alavés, on the other hand, didn’t manage any shots on goal.
In the 61st minute, Yamal’s shot was saved, and shortly after, Barcelona found the net. Pedri crossed to Yamal, whose volley hit an Alavés defender’s back. Lewandowski scored with a volley into the far post to put Barcelona ahead.
Lewandowski, La Liga’s top scorer, has now scored 18 goals in 21 matches, three more than Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, who is in second place.
In the 74th minute, Ferran Torres’ shot from outside the box was saved by the goalkeeper. After that, Barcelona failed to register any more shots on target. Alavés, meanwhile, had three shots, all off target.
Alavés, with 11 losses in 22 matches, sits in 18th place with 21 points.
