MX23RW : Monday, November 25 20:06:54| >> :120:30304:30304:
[monks data]
Attendance: 62,369
Barcelona logo
La Liga
Jan 28, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Alaves logo

2-1

Suarez (72'), Messi (84')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Guidetti (23')

Lionel Messi wins it late for Barcelona

Lionel Messi wins it late for Barcelona
© Offside
Barcelona come from behind to record a 2-1 win over Alaves in Sunday night's entertaining La Liga clash at Camp Nou.

Barcelona came from behind to record a 2-1 win over Alaves in Sunday night's entertaining La Liga clash at Camp Nou.

Alaves took a shock 23rd-minute lead through John Guidetti, but Luis Suarez equalised in the 72nd minute before Lionel Messi came up with a winner for the league leaders six minutes from time.

The victory has seen Barcelona re-open an 11-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid at the top of the table, while Alaves remain down in 17th position.

Philippe Coutinho made his long-awaited La Liga debut for Barcelona, with the Brazilian selected alongside Suarez and Messi in the final third of the field.

As for Alaves, on-loan forward Munir El Haddadi started on the bench against his parent club, with former Manchester City forward Guidetti tasked with leading the line.

It was Lucas Digne - who was handed a rare start at left-back - that had Barcelona's first opening of the match in the seventh minute, but the Frenchman fired just wide of the Alaves post from a wide position.

Barcelona were having all of the ball, but Alaves were a threat on the counter, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to be alert to keep out Ibai Gomez in the 16th minute following a break from the visitors.

Alaves did take the lead in the 23rd minute, however, when yet another fast break ended with Guidetti finding the back of the net. Ter Stegen left a lot of space at his near post, and the on-loan Celta Vigo striker converted to shock Camp Nou.

Ruben Sobrino almost doubled Alaves's advantage in the 27th minute with a clever effort from inside the Barcelona box, but Ter Stegen was on hand to make a smart save.

Andres Iniesta curled one over the Alaves crossbar just before the half-hour mark as Barcelona looked to hit back, but Alaves continued to threaten down the other end - Sobrino bringing another save from Ter Stegen.

Fernando Pacheco made a smart save to keep out a Messi free kick in the 35th minute, before the same two players locked horns from another set piece late in the first period, and the second stop from the Alaves goalkeeper was even better.

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde changed both of his full-backs early in the second period, with Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba taking the places of Digne and Nelson Semedo.

The home side's final ball continued to disappoint, however, and Alaves still led 1-0 approaching the final 30 minutes of action inside a shocked Camp Nou.

Alaves almost took a two-goal lead in the 62nd minute when Gomez found Ruben Duarte inside the Barcelona box, but the full-back saw his goalbound effort blocked over by Gerard Pique.

Coutinho's full debut ended in the 66th minute when Paco Alcacer entered the field, and moments later Barcelona had a wonderful chance to level; the opportunity fell for Suarez inside the Alaves box, but Pacheco made a smart stop.

Pacheco then denied Paulinho from close range after Pique's flick had set up an excellent chance for the Brazilian.

Barcelona finally levelled the scores in the 72nd minute when Suarez turned an Iniesta cross into the back of the net during a period were Alaves were wobbling.

Suarez fired over the away side's crossbar in the 77th minute, but Barcelona had their second in the 84th minute when Messi curled a wonderful free kick into the top corner of the net.

Messi had the chance to double his tally in the final moments after breaking into the Alaves box, but Pacheco made another smart save as just one goal separated the two teams on the night.

BARCA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo (Roberto 52'), Pique, Umtiti, Digne (Alba 52'); Rakitic, Iniesta, Paulinho; Coutinho (Alcacer 66'), Suarez, Messi

ALAVES (4-4-2): Pacheco; Alexis, Maripan, Laguardia, Duarte (Demirovic 89'); Ibai, Medran, Wakaso, Perez (Alfonso 63'); Guidetti (Munir 75'), Sobrino

ID:317314: cacheID:317314:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6892:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aleix Vidal in action for Barcelona on August 6, 2016
Read Next:
Top PL clubs 'in talks with Aleix Vidal'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!