FC Barcelona emerge victorious against Deportivo Alaves with a convincing 3-1 victory. The Catalan giants endured an early scare, but then retaliated with some sublime football and way of passing. Ultimately, their efforts worked wonders as Barcelona took away all three points.
Initially, the game seemed to be going heavily in favor of Alaves. However, not too long after, Barcelona kicked into gear and began orchestrating some dangerous-looking plays. Consequently, this allowed them to score some great goals through Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, and Vitor Roque.
Here is how the Barcelona players fared.
Player Ratings:
Inaki Pena: 7.0
Perhaps was a bit obstructed when it came to the goal that he conceded, but was otherwise quite solid. Came off his line when needed, and made some assertive blocks after being criticized for a lack of those.
Joao Cancelo: 6.5
The Portuguese fullback had a decent first-half performance. His offensive creativity was a positive constant, and he even contributed defensively. However, he had to be subbed off at halftime possibly due to discomfort.
Pau Cubarsi: 7.5
Almost impossible to press, Pau Cubarsi is a technical marvel. On more occasions than one, he took advantage of Alaves trying to press him as he would unleash a precise and quick pass to open up a lot of space for Barcelona. Moreover, despite the physical disadvantage, he continued to keep Samu in check.
Ronald Araujo: 7.0
Did pretty well with muscling off the incoming Alaves forwards, and kept most of them at bay. However, his continuous miscommunication with Inaki Pena continues to cost Barcelona in the slightest of moments.
Jules Kounde: 7.5
The Frenchman was once again solid as a fullback for Barcelona. His ball progression, composure, and timing were all traits that allowed Barcelona to regain their momentum and maintain a proper tempo when playing out from the back.
Andreas Christensen: 7.0
Even though this was an unusual appearance for Andreas Christensen as a pivot, he was rather solid. His ability to win back the ball in midfield constantly allowed Barça to make offensive transitions, and his passing was quite impressive as well.
Ilkay Gundogan: 9.0
An almost perfect performance in terms of the win, Ilkay Gundogan was crucial throughout his time on the field. A sublime assist to Robert Lewandowski was his first goal contribution, and then he also scored a great goal himself to cap off a valiant performance.
Frenkie De Jong: 7.5
The orchestrator on a lot of occasions for Barcelona, it was through Frenkie De Jong that Barcelona managed to put an end to the pressure from Alaves. His ability to cut through any defender or opponent that comes his way was quite useful for Xavi’s team in helping out as well.
Pedri: 8.0
Another performer who continued to showcase his great creative mind despite not being in his usual position. Even as a false winger, Pedri crafted a lot of decent opportunities for Barcelona. He also provided a carefully lofted assist for Ilkay Gundogan’s goal.
Robert Lewandowski: 8.0
The Polish striker showcased exactly why Xavi continues to count on him. His ability to turn half a chance into a goal came useful when he received Gundogan’s intricate pass and chipped it masterfully over the Alaves goalkeeper.
Lamine Yamal: 7.5
Despite his tender age, Lamine Yamal continues to be an elite threat due to his dribbling prowess. His constant danger in one-on-one situations opened up a lot of chances and lines for Barcelona to exploit.
Substitutes:
Hector Fort: 6.5
Played the entirety of the second half after coming on for Joao Cancelo. Mainly contributed defensively, and made sure to keep the Alaves players in check whether by speed or by timely interventions in various ways.
Vitor Roque: 7.5
What a rollercoaster of an introduction Vitor Roque gave fans of Barcelona. Just as he did last time, the Brazilian came on and scored a goal just a few minutes after his arrival into the game. However, then came two questionable yellow cards that resulted in him being sent off not too long after.
Fermin Lopez: 6.5
His aggression and tenacity were quite effective in making Alaves commit mistakes. Moreover, his lack of hesitancy is always a welcome addition to this Barcelona team as he is at least one player who is not afraid to have a go at goal from any angle.
Inigo Martinez: N/A
Not enough time or influence on the game to warrant a rating.
Oriol Romeu: N/A
Not enough time or influence on the game to warrant a rating.
