With the international break fast approaching, Barca had one last task before selected players of the squad go out and represent their country….and hopefully come back healthy.
And that task, was to take down a aside that was undefeated at home so far this season.
We’re not talking about none of the big 3 sides, notable sides like Betis, Athletic Club, Sociedad, and Villareal.
Nope, we’re talking about Deportivo Alaves.
Barca needed 3 points to restore their 3 point lead atop La Liga, but as you can see, it was set to be a bit tricky.
Let’s see how Barca fared
First half
The first half was full of fireworks for Barca.
As soon as the match started, they put their foot on the gas and didn’t look back for any sort of reason. As a result, Barca were able to net 3 goals in the first half, with all goals coming from one player.
The talisman that leads Barca’s front line, a Polish superstar, a walking legend, none other than Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski’s first goal was from an ordinary set piece from Barca, with Raphinha pulling the strings courtesy of a beautiful cross into Alaves’ penalty area.
Perfect cross from the Brazilian and a textbook header from Lewandowski, all resulting in the game’s first goal and the start of a fun day for Barca.
The second goal was a prime example of the core of Hansi Flick’s own footballing philosophy. Quick, direct, and ruthless.
Raphinha received a pass on the left flank, before flicking the ball past an Alaves defender and into open space. With green grass and an anxious keeper in front of him, Raphinha spotted a streaking Lewandowski.
Raphinha then guided a beautiful ball towards Lewandowski, with the very next action after resulting in an easy tap in goal.
Once again, quick, direct, and ruthless football from Barca.
The action didn’t stop there though, as Barca looked for more before halftime to extend their lead even further.
This time it was Eric Garcia with the assist, as he fired a good ball in to Lewandowski deep in Alaves’ final third. Lewandowski’s touch almost killed the chance, but his skill wouldn’t let that happen, as he carefully placed a shot far post and into the back of the net.
3-0 Barca, a 30 minute first half hat trick for Lewandowski, Barca were flying high in the first half and nothing was present to shoot them down.
Alaves almost got a goal to end the half as well, but the goal was ruled offsides, restoring Barca’s 3-0 lead heading into halftime.
The second half was all that separated Barca from another win on the season, all they had to do was hold on and focus defensively.
Let’s see how they did in the second pair of 45 minutes.
Second half
The second half was a bit of a snoozer.
Alaves applied pressure, but they couldn’t convert any of it into goals either due to bad finishing or failure to stay onside.
As a result, Barca were able to stay pretty relaxed while defending their deserved 3-0 lead.
We did eventually get a nice cameo from Ansu Fati, getting a couple shots on goal. He honestly could’ve had a few goals, but Alaves’ keeper prevented that from happening with a few good saves.
Anyways, Barca cruised to a 3-0 win and restored their 3 point lead atop La Liga.
Final word
Nice and tidy win away from home, with 3 more points in the bag heading into the international break.
Now all we can hope for is good health for the players going to international camps.
Bayern and Madrid are up after the break as well, so conserve your energy and get ready for some big matches in a few weeks.
Barca’s next match
Barca’s next match will be against Sevilla on October 20th.
See you all then!
I’ve been a big time Barca fan since I was 14 years old. I love the club, the history, and the tradition that the club has built over its prestigious history. Forca Barca!
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