Barcelona v Deportivo Alavés Live Commentary & Result, 2/13/21, Primera División

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	ATM Atlético Madrid	30	20	7	3	52	20	+32	67	D L W D W
2	RMA Real Madrid	30	20	6	4	53	24	+29	66	W W W W D
3	BAR Barcelona	30	20	5	5	69	26	+43	65	L W W W W
4	SEV Sevilla	30	19	4	7	44	24	+20	61	W W D W W
5	RSO Real Sociedad	30	12	11	7	47	31	+16	47	D D L L W
6	BET Real Betis	30	14	5	11	40	43	-3	47	D D W L W
7	VIL Villarreal	30	11	13	6	43	33	+10	46	L W W W L
8	GRA Granada	30	11	6	13	36	50	-14	39	W L L W L
9	LEV Levante	30	9	11	10	37	39	-2	38	W L L W L
10	CEL Celta de Vigo	30	9	10	11	41	48	-7	37	L W L D W
11	ATH Athletic Club	30	9	10	11	39	33	+6	37	D D D D L
12	CAD Cádiz	30	9	8	13	27	45	-18	35	W W L D W
13	VAL Valencia	30	8	10	12	37	42	-5	34	D L W L W
14	OSA Osasuna	30	8	10	12	25	36	-11	34	W D D D L
15	GET Getafe	30	7	9	14	22	34	-12	30	L D D D L
16	HUE Huesca	30	5	12	13	31	45	-14	27	W W D L L
17	VLD Real Valladolid	30	5	12	13	27	41	-14	27	L L D D W
18	ELC Elche	30	5	11	14	27	46	-19	26	L D D L L
19	ALA Deportivo Alavés	30	5	9	16	24	47	-23	24	D L L D L
20	EIB Eibar	30	4	11	15	22	36	-14	23	L L D L L

Barca keep up the pressure on Atletico at the top then as their focus turns to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. La Liga might be an uphill struggle for Koeman's team now but in form like this Barca will take some stopping in Europe. That's all for now. Goodbye!

Barca return to second in La Liga after this victory ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference. League leaders Atletico Madrid remain eight points clear with a game in hand after their 2-1 win away to Granada earlier. Barca can just keep doing what they're doing. Alaves stay 16th. Their season won't depend on games like these.

Barcelona dismantle Deportivo Alaves to keep their winning streak going with Trincao and man of the match Messi both scoring twice. It took Barca almost half an hour to break down a stubborn Alaves side before Messi made it 2-0 just before half-time. Perez's second-half goal gave Alaves hope until three goals in six minutes for Barca late on killed the game off.

90' + 1' FULL-TIME: BARCELONA 5-1 DEPORTIVO ALAVES

90' There'll be one minute added onto the end of this game.

88' Trincao thinks he's got his hat-trick after Messi slips him in down the right-hand channel and he fires past Pacheco. Trincao's celebrations are shortlived though as he strayed offside in the build-up.

87' Messi clips the ball towards goal from the left of the box but it's not got enough pace on it to worry Pacheco. Messi's looking for a hat-trick now, as is Trincao.

85' Deyverson makes himself useful again, earning a free-kick off Junior. The Brazilian's not playing as if his side are 5-1 down, to his credit.

83' Now Barca's three quickfire goals have killed this game as a contest, things are starting to calm down. Deyverson wins a free-kick as he's fouled by Lenglet.

Borja Sainz

Lucas Pérez

81' Joselu's strike partner Perez also heads off. At least he scored here. Sainz is his replacement.

Deyverson

Joselu

81' Alaves make some forlorn substitutions. Joselu is replaced by the Brazilian forward Deyverson.

O. Dembélé

A. Griezmann

81' Substitution Antoine Griezmann Ousmane Dembélé

A. Griezmann

Assist

80' Griezmann grabs his second assist in about as many minutes. The Frenchman's clicking very well now with this Barca team.

Junior Firpo

Goal

80' GOAL! BARCELONA 5-1 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! Alaves' resistance is well and truly broken now. Messi pops the ball over the top for Griezmann who's making his way into the box. Griezmann crosses first-time for Junior who fires high into the net at the far post. Lovely stuff.

77' Messi has scored 12 goals against Alaves in La Liga now, scoring in eight of his 11 appearances against them. He's scored at least one goal in each of his last four games against the Basques at Camp Nou including this one.

A. Griezmann

Assist

75' Griezmann passed to Messi in the build-up so the Frenchman gets the assist. Barca can afford to step off the gas now.

L. Messi

Goal

75' GOAL! BARCELONA 4-1 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! Messi grabs his second goal of the game too out of nowhere, curling a shot towards the top left corner from outside the box. It's ridiculously good, which is about par for Messi.

L. Messi

Assist

74' Messi gets the assist. Barca's captain has been typically brilliant here and has surely helped his team to all three points.

Trincão

Goal

74' GOAL! BARCELONA 3-1 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! Trincao seals the win for Barca by scoring his second goal of the game. Messi darts through on goal, forcing Pacheco to come out and challenge him. Pacheco can't save Messi's blast and Trincao calmly finishes into an empty net.

Pere Pons

Pina

72' Alaves make a change of their own. Pons is on for Pina.

M. Pjanić

F. de Jong

72' Pjanic also comes on for de Jong who moved into midfield after Umtiti's introduction.

S. Dest

Óscar Mingueza

72' Barca make a few changes. Dest replaces Mingueza at right-back.

70' Pacheco eventually catches Puig's high ball into the box. Alaves go straight upfield and Perez gets loose down the left! Perez looks to find his strike partner Joselu but Umtiti is well-placed to stop Perez's cross from reaching its intended target. Alaves get a corner which Barca clear.

68' Barca are playing a little more slowly now in order to conserve energy. The hosts knock the ball around in front of Alaves' low block without really getting anywhere in particular.

66' Griezmann nearly makes it 3-1! It's a fantastic move as Junior passes inside to Messi. Messi dinks it over the top first-time for Griezmann whose volley goes just wide of the right-hand post.

Pedri

Ilaix Kourouma

64' Here's that Barca change - Pedri is on for Moriba. Moriba's had a mixed game for Barca, assisting a goal at both ends of the pitch.

63' Messi drags a shot wide as an opportunity presents itself just inside the box. It looks like Moriba will be heading off shortly.

62' Trincao almost restores Barca's two-goal advantage! The winger latches onto Griezmann's clever backheel, darting into Alaves' box and going for goal. Pacheco's stop sends it trickling wide of the left-hand post and Barca get the corner.

60' Messi wins a free-kick just in front of the D. The Argentine takes a short run-up and sends it towards goal but Pacheco is agile enough to dive across and claim it.

59' How will that goal affect Barca? Alaves have created precious little but the visitors have hope now. Koeman will be frustrated that his side have let Alaves back into the game.

Luis Rioja

Goal

57' GOAL! BARCELONA 2-1 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! Alaves are back in this after a terrible error by Moriba. Moriba's pass back is far too lax and Rioja nips into the box to slot past ter Stegen into the bottom corner!

55' Alaves get a throw-in as Barca uncharacteristically knock a pass straight out of play. Mendez does well to keep in a cross on the opposite side and slips in Perez who blazes over from distance.

Alberto Rodríguez

Yellow Card

52' Tachi's booked for that foul on Junior. Alaves have had to resort to fouling their opponents a lot so far.

52' Alaves are hustling high up the pitch but Barca are coping well with their press. Tachi catches Junior in the face after the ball's gone away from him. That'll be a card.

50' The free-kick's too far to the left for Messi to go straight for goal. Instead Barca's captain curls a cross towards the far post but fails to find the head of a teammate.

49' Barca have a free-kick just outside the box after Tachi's foul on Junior. Messi is standing over it.

47' Chance for Alaves! Perez gets loose to the left of the box and lashes a left-footed shot towards goal from a tight angle. It fizzes past ter Stegen's head and out of play for a goal-kick.

47' We're back underway for the second half. Let's see how those three substitutions change things.

S. Umtiti

Sergio Busquets

46' Barca make a change of their own. Umtiti is on for Busquets.

Luis Rioja

Iñigo Córdoba

46' Cordoba has not had much joy down the left for Alaves. Rioja will try to do better.

Laguardia

Martín Aguirregabiria

46' Alaves make two changes at half-time. Aguirregabiria has been replaced in defence by Laguardia.

Barca had 77 per cent of the possession in that first half. When you're seeing as little of the ball as Alaves are, you need to at least pose some kind of threat on the break but they haven't been able to do that. Will Fernandez ask his team to chase the game or will Alaves' focus now be on avoiding a thumping?

Barca comfortably lead Alaves at half-time thanks to goals from Trincao and Messi. Alaves have made a nuisance of themselves but haven't really given Barca much to worry about up front, making it easier for the hosts to play patiently. Alaves aren't completely out of this but a comeback seems unlikely.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: BARCELONA 2-0 DEPORTIVO ALAVES

Sergio Busquets

Assist

45' + 1' Busquets claims the assist for that goal with a direct ball forward from the back. It's left Barca in a great place at the break as the half-time whistle blows!

L. Messi

Goal

45' + 1' GOAL! BARCELONA 2-0 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! Messi makes up for his ruled-out goal earlier by scoring now! It's a lovely goal too as the Argentine cuts inside onto his left foot and dinks the ball into the right-hand post. The sound of it is very satisfying.

45' There'll be two minutes added onto the end of the half.

44' Alaves are hardly troubling Barca but they are growing into the game. Barca have found it difficult to create much in the past few minutes.

42' Now Barca get a succession of corners. Messi cuts inside and shoots low but an Alaves defender manages to get in the way.

40' Perez has a shot blocked and Alaves win two corners in a row. Barca defend both corners successfully.

39' Cordoba gets free down the left and flings a cross into the Barca box. Barca have a huge gap in their defence but ter Stegen confidently claims the ball.

37' NO GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! The officials rule the goal out for offside against Griezmann. It was tight.

35' GOAL! BARCELONA 2-0 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! Alaves' defensive line is far too high and they get punished. Griezmann runs in behind to force a save from Pacheco. The ball rolls to Messi who finds the bottom corner. As ever, VAR will review this.

33' Mingueza runs across his man to fire straight at Pacheco but he's offside from Puig's throughball.

31' Barca have scored with only their fifth shot of the half. Alaves have done a good job of limiting Barca's chances so far but couldn't prevent Trincao from scoring there.

Ilaix Kourouma

Assist

29' Moriba was well within his rights to shoot there but the teenager had the presence of mind to pick out Trincao.

Trincão

Goal

29' GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 DEPORTIVO ALAVES! Trincao fires into the bottom left corner after a layoff in the box from Moriba. Alaves had failed to clear a cross from the right which Moriba picked up.

27' Alaves test ter Stegen as the keeper tips a cross aside. Battaglia unleashes a daisy cutter from the edge of the box and the German gets down low to catch it.

26' Lenglet takes his time to get up after taking a minor bang to the head but he's fine. Play continues. Barca are staying patient.

24' Barca try to squirm the ball through the centre of Alaves but the visitors aren't having it. Alaves have worked hard in these opening 25 minutes.

23' Alaves have a corner down their right. It leads to nothing as Busquets is fouled in Barca's box.

21' Alaves can't really get near the ball to threaten Barca. Trincao darts inside and earns a free-kick for the hosts.

19' Alaves are holding their own at the moment although Barca have dominated possession. Barca have had 84 per cent of the ball so far.

Martín Aguirregabiria

Yellow Card

17' Aguirregabiria's booked for a cynical pull on Messi. It was perhaps necessary for Alaves as Messi was breezing through the middle.

16' Alaves' full-back Duarte is down receiving a spray to the thigh after being fouled by Junior. He gets up soon enough. The free-kick's headed away and Barca break but Messi can't get past Aguirregabiria. Messi gets the free-kick.

14' Alaves get a corner down their left as the ball goes out of play off Mingueza. Barca manage to deal with it.

12' The offside flag goes up against Junior as Messi attempts to set him free down the left.

10' Barca force another corner down their left off Mendez. Alaves manage to successfully clear it.

8' Alaves counter from the corner as Mendez bursts down the flank. Perez fires high and wide from the left of the box.

6' Messi takes aim for the bottom left corner from a difficult angle on the left. Pacheco ventures out of his goal and makes the block. It'll be a Barca corner.

4' Trincao fires wide from inside the area after cutting inside on his left foot. Barca are already asserting themselves.

2' Barca start strongly as Griezmann has a shot bravely blocked from the centre of the box! The Frenchman had received a smart pass from Trincao.

1' And we're underway!

The two sides are out on the pitch in Barcelona. Barca are in their usual home strip. Alaves are in their red-and-white away strip.

Barca haven't lost their last eight La Liga games against Alaves, scoring an average of three goals per game. They've failed to score in just one of their 15 home games against the visitors. An Alaves upset seems unlikely but can they make things interesting?

Barca make five changes from their 3-2 win over Real Betis. Messi returns to the starting line-up. There are three changes to Alaves' side from their 1-0 win over Valladolid.

SUBS: Burgui, Deyverson, Abdelkabir Abqar, Javi Lopez, Víctor Laguardia, Borja Sainz, Jota, Pere Pons, Antonio Sivera, Manu Garcia, Facundo Pellistri, Luis Rioja.

DEPORTIVO ALAVES (4-4-2): Fernando Pacheco (c); Martín Aguirregabiria, Tachi, Florian Lejeune, Ruben Duarte; Edgar Mendez, Rodrigo Battaglia, Tomas Pina, Inigo Cordoba; Joselu, Lucas Perez.

SUBS: Sergino Dest, Miralem Pjanic, Ousmane Dembele, Inaki Pena, Samuel Umtiti, Alex Collado, Pedri, Neto, Matheus Fernandes, Jordi Alba, Konrad De la Fuente.

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Óscar Mingueza, Frenkie de Jong, Clement Lenglet, Junior Firpo; Ilaix Moriba, Sergio Busquets, Riqui Puig; Trincao, Lionel Messi (c), Antoine Griezmann.

Alaves nabbed a much-needed win over Real Valladolid last time out to end a six-game winless streak in the league. Abelardo Fernández's team are still 16th though and remain in the thick of a relegation battle. Anything other than a heavy defeat here would probably be welcome.

Barcelona are in blistering league form and sit fourth in La Liga at the moment. Ronald Koeman's team are staking a serious claim to be Atletico Madrid's nearest challengers at the top and will reclaim second place for now with a victory here.

Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this La Liga match between Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Camp Nou, Barcelona.

Barcelona v Deportivo Alavés Live Commentary, 2/13/21

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