Match ends, Alavés 0, Barcelona 2.
AlavésAlavés0BarcelonaBarcelona2
Barcelona moved to within touching distance of the La Liga title with a comfortable victory at Alaves.
After a goalless first half, midfielder Carles Alena, 21, opened the scoring with a close-range finish following a sweeping attack by the visitors.
Barcelona were awarded a penalty soon after following a VAR handball review and Uruguay's Luis Suarez converted.
Victory means Barcelona will be confirmed as champions on Wednesday if Atletico Madrid lose to Valencia.
The reigning champions are 12 points clear of Atletico, who have five games remaining.
While Atletico could potentially still finish level on points with their title rivals even if they slip up on Wednesday, Barcelona will win the title by virtue of a better head-to-head record between the two sides.
The result may mean Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde rests players against Levante at the weekend before next week's Champions League semi-final with Liverpool.
Valverde perhaps already had one eye on the first leg against Jurgen Klopp's side on Wednesday by opting to start Lionel Messi on the bench at Alaves.
The Argentina forward came on just after an hour and went closest to scoring his 34th league goal of the season with a powerful strike from a tight angle that was tipped over by Alaves goalkeeper Pacheco.
Line-ups
Alavés
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Pacheco
- 2Vigaray
- 5Laguardia
- 4ElySubstituted forTwumasiat 71'minutes
- 15Navarro JiménezBooked at 56mins
- 3Duarte
- 9RolanSubstituted forBrasanacat 45'minutes
- 22Wakaso
- 8PinaBooked at 90mins
- 23Rodríguez MenéndezBooked at 33minsSubstituted forGuidettiat 81'minutes
- 18Bastón
Substitutes
- 10Guidetti
- 13Sivera
- 17Marín
- 19García Sánchez
- 20Brasanac
- 21Aguirregabiria
- 24Twumasi
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 2Nélson SemedoSubstituted forAlbaat 70'minutes
- 3Piqué
- 23Umtiti
- 20Roberto
- 22Vidal
- 5Busquets
- 21AleñáSubstituted forArthurat 87'minutes
- 11DembéléSubstituted forMessiat 61'minutes
- 9Suárez
- 7CoutinhoBooked at 76mins
Substitutes
- 8Arthur
- 10Messi
- 13Cillessen
- 14Malcom
- 15Lenglet
- 18Alba
- 24Vermaelen
- Referee:
- Adrián Cordero Vega
- Attendance:
- 18,735
Match Stats
Home TeamAlavésAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home23%
- Away77%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away6
- Corners
- Home1
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Alavés 0, Barcelona 2.
Booking
Tomás Pina (Alavés) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Coutinho (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Tomás Pina (Alavés).
Post update
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
Post update
Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by John Guidetti (Alavés).
Post update
Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
Post update
Attempt missed. Coutinho (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Arthur replaces Carles Aleñá.
Post update
Coutinho (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Carlos Vigaray (Alavés).
Post update
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mubarak Wakaso (Alavés).
Substitution
Substitution, Alavés. John Guidetti replaces Jony.
Post update
Attempt missed. Borja Bastón (Alavés) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Carlos Vigaray with a cross.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Fernando Pacheco (Alavés) because of an injury.
Booking
Coutinho (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Comments
Join the conversation
4 minutes ago
Why is there a HYS on this foreign trash?
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I'll tell you why...
It is troll click bait.
Get them hitting the HYS to say how easy it is going to be for Barca to beat Liverpool.
Give it time... more will come. Like a moth to a candle!
PS - Well done to Barca... for getting one game closer to winning their league?!
"Why is there an HYS on this foreign trash? No one cares"
Why have you brought the EPL into it?
La LiGA iS bESt lEAGue fOR lASt TWentY YeARs
said nobody with an ounce of sense
The top-6 or 7 in La Liga are great to good, the rest, shoring up the numbers.
Who'd win between Rayo and Fulham say?
I've heard that your club has coughed up for some 30 away match buses.
How the other half live.
Cushty, but are you not just gluttons for punishment?
Perhaps Sheik Whatsisname got a job lot on them.
If I had his money, I could probably think of better things to do with it.
You wish on Kev 😉
Talking about La Liga and Barça, who cares about Liverpool attack or Man City bus??? After all they are clubs who made have won 2 trophies in 29 years and the other their first 6 trophies after a milenia... grow up wannabes!!!!
How jammy can you get?
'Erm, what shall I do today? I know I'll buy some 42-seater coaches. Brilliant plan.'
Aside from that, as I said before, if Liverpool can contain Barca (we have a stingy defence) and score one or two, get them back at home turf, then the Reds have more than a chance.
The big tie is wider than this match alone.