Barcelona surged to the top of the La Liga table after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over a resilient Deportivo Alaves at their partially rebuilt Camp Nou stadium on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
The Catalans' 126th-anniversary celebrations got off to a nightmare start when Pablo Ibanez shocked the home crowd by scoring for Alaves inside the first minute. However, the Blaugrana displayed character to fight back, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal equalizing, before a Dani Olmo brace sealed the three points.
Shock Start and Spirited Response
The match could not have begun worse for Hansi Flick's side. A poorly cleared corner allowed Victor Parada to set up Pablo Ibanez, who fired Alaves into a surprise lead with less than 60 seconds on the clock. The early goal threatened to dampen the festive mood following a midweek 3-0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea.
Barcelona's response, however, was swift. The returning Brazilian winger Raphinha, making his first start after injury, was instrumental. He delivered a low cross into the box that Dani Olmo swiped at and missed, but the ball fell perfectly for Lamine Yamal to blast into the roof of the net for the equalizer.
Goalkeeper Joan Garcia then made a crucial save to deny Alaves' Calebe, keeping the scores level and proving his worth between the posts.
Olmo Seizes Control
Barcelona's pressure soon told. Once again, Raphinha was the creator, cutting the ball back from the right for Dani Olmo to drill a low shot inside the near post, giving Barca the lead midway through the first half.
The hosts had chances to extend their advantage before the break. Yamal rounded the goalkeeper but could only hit the post, while Alaves' Lucas Boye fired a warning shot just wide of Garcia's goal.
The second half saw the emotional return of playmaker Pedri Gonzalez from injury, who came on as a substitute to a roaring reception from the 45,000 fans in attendance. Barcelona continued to probe but found it difficult to kill the game, with Yamal curling an effort wide and Olmo seeing another shot trickle past the post.
Alaves nearly punished their profligacy, but a vital block from defender Pau Cubarsi prevented a certain equalizer from Boye.
Late Seal and League Implications
The hosts finally put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time. The effervescent Yamal turned provider, setting up Dani Olmo for his second goal of the night to seal a 3-1 victory.
This win, Barcelona's fourth consecutive league victory, sent them provisionally two points clear at the top of La Liga, putting pressure on second-placed Real Madrid who were set to face Girona on Sunday.
The match also marked a positive return for Marc Bernal in midfield, making his first start for Barcelona since August 2024 after recovering from knee surgery. The team, however, had to manage without the injured Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong, while Jules Kounde was dropped to the bench.
Reflecting on the match, Dani Olmo told DAZN, "They caught us a bit by surprise in the first minute, but the team came back well... It's a dream come true to be able to play here, to score and help the team to win."
