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Renato Gonçalves Renato Goncalves is the deputy manager of Barca Blaugranes and has been writing for the site since all the way back in 2014. He’s a massive sports fan and has been crazy about Barcelona ever since Rivaldo scored that bicycle kick in 2001.
Barcelona are back to winning ways and back on top of the La Liga table thanks to a dominant 6-1 victory against Alavés at Camp Nou on Saturday night. The Blaugrana were in full control from the start and scored some beautiful goals on the night, with Raphinha, Lamine and Fermín López putting on a show for the home crowd.
Barça played a magnificent first half, dominating the ball and playing patiently against Alavés’ tight 4-5-1 structure while also using the individual quality of their stars to find spaces, create chances and score great goals throughout the period.
The first came through the genius of Pedri, who played a brilliant through ball to find Fermín López, who gave Raphinha a tap-in for the opener. Fermín was the recipient of Lamine Yamal’s assist for the second goal and scored a brilliant goal from a tight angle inside the box, and the Catalans were in full control early on.
Alavés had one or two good chances on the counter but the Barça defense made solid interventions, and the Blaugrana continued to attack and had two huge chances to increase the lead but Raphinha and Yamal couldn’t find the net.
But there was still time for two more goals just before halftime: Fermín won the ball back in midfield and played a great pass to Raphinha, and the captain doubled his tally on the night; then came perhaps the best goal of all after a fantastic passing sequence that ended with a glorious strike from outside the box by Yamal.
The Catalans had a deserved four-goal lead at the break after a sensational first half, and it was up to them to keep the foot on the pedal to add more goals in the final period.
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Barça naturally dropped their intensity and didn’t take as many risks in the second half, but still had major chances to score and Karim Adeyemi missed a huge opportunity inside the box early on.
The fifth goal eventually came shortly after the hour mark as Gabriel Jesus assisted Yamal who chipped the keeper to score his second of the night in brilliant fashion. The teenager was substituted with 20 minutes to go as Hansi Flick was able to rest some of his big stars, with Pedri and Raphinha also coming off earlier on.
Yamal’s substitute was Anthony Gordon, and the Englishman joined the scoring party with 10 minutes remaining with a beautiful dink of his own after a wonderful through ball from Rodri. Barça were not able to keep a clean sheet, however, as Rodri’s bad pass gave Mariano Díaz a chance to find the net and give Alavés some consolation.
The final whistle came to restore Barça’s two-point lead at the top of the table and bring the good vibes back with the type of performance we saw so often from this team before the international break. So many individuals shined, and the goals were of the highest quality.
Well done, boys!
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