Barcelona moved up to third in La Liga after a goal and assist from İlkay Gündoğan helped them to a hard-earned 3-1 victory over Deportivo Alavés. The result extends the visitors’ unbeaten league record on the road this season to 11 matches (six wins, five draws). Fresh from a morale-boosting victory against Osasuna in midweek, Xavi’s side travelled to Álava with a two-point cushion over Athletic Club in the top-four race. A clash against Luis García’s in-form Alavés promised to be a stern test however, and the opening stages of the contest were closely fought, with neither side able to gain control of proceedings.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Having failed to create anything of note early on, Barça gradually improved as the first half progressed, and their pressure was duly rewarded in the 22nd minute when Robert Lewandowski received a clever pass from Gündoğan and dinked a sublime finish over Antonio Sivera. Undeterred, the hosts went in pursuit of a response before halftime, but Jon Guridi saw a headed effort thwarted by Iñaki Peña while Samu Omorodion directed a close-range strike narrowly wide.
Grateful for those reprieves, Barça emerged after the restart on the front foot, and Xavi’s men soon doubled their lead via Gündoğan, who finished emphatically from a superb Pedri delivery. The visitors’ two-goal cushion was swiftly halved though, as Omorodion headed home from inside the box after excellent work from Alex Sola. The end-to-end nature of the contest continued into the final half-hour, and Barça re-established their two-goal advantage when substitute Vitor Roque swept a low finish into the far corner for his second goal in as many games.
It didn’t take long for the youngster to go from hero to villain, however, as he picked up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes to leave the visitors a man light heading into the closing stages. Despite their numerical advantage, Alavés struggled to break through a resolute Barça rearguard as the visitors held firm, consolidating their position in the top four. The hosts, meanwhile, will be keen to bounce back against Villarreal next weekend after their three-match winning run in the league came to a disappointing end.
LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 23FridayAthletic Club – Mallorca 4-0 (2-0)/Berchiche 3, 16, Guruzeta 62, Muniain 89/SaturdayValencia – Almeria 2-1 (2-0)/Duro 14, Yaremchuk 23 – Arribas 50/Granada – Las Palmas 1-1 (1-0)/Mendez 43 – Pejino 68/Alaves – Barcelona 1-3 (0-1)/Omorodion 51 – Lewandowski 23, Gundogan 49, Roque 63/23:00: (2.25) Girona (3.50) Sociedad (3.40)Sunday16:00: (1.63) Villareal (3.80) Cadiz (5.70)18:15: (2.40) Osasuna (3.10) Celta (3.20)20:30: (1.95) Betis (3.35) Getafe (4.20)23:00: (1.80) Real Madrid (3.70) Atl.Madrid (5.00)Monday23:00: (2.25) Rayo Vallecano (3.35) Sevilla (3.50)***odds are subject to change***