Blaugrana Overcome Early Scare to Defeat Alaves and Move Clear of Madrid
Barcelona celebrated its 126th anniversary with a nail-biting victory, overcoming a shocking early goal from Deportivo Alaves to win 2-1 and climb to the top of La Liga.
The celebrations at the stadium nearly turned to silence within the first minute. Alaves stunned the home crowd when Pablo Ibanez pounced on a loose ball from a corner, tapping it in for a dream start.
However, Barcelona’s firepower quickly answered. A lightning-fast attack, started by Alejandro Balde and superbly assisted by Raphinha, found the teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net to level the score.
The game turned into a back-and-forth battle. After Alaves came close to retaking the lead, Barcelona struck again. Raphinha was once again the creator, sprinting onto a long pass and unselfishly setting up Dani Olmo for a simple finish.
Barca had several golden chances to extend their lead before halftime, but Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera stood tall, making crucial saves to keep his team in the game.
The second half was a tense affair, with Alaves growing in confidence as Barcelona struggled to put the game to bed. The visitors pressed for an equalizer, forcing Barca’s goalkeeper into action and seeing one promising breakaway halted by an offside flag.
Just as it seemed Barcelona would have to settle for a nervy one-goal win, Dani Olmo delivered the decisive blow in the 93rd minute. The midfielder won the ball high up the pitch, combined with Yamal, and coolly slotted home to seal a hard-fought three points in dramatic fashion.
The victory sends Barcelona two points clear at the summit of La Liga, putting pressure on rivals Real Madrid. The team now faces a quick turnaround, with a blockbuster clash against in-form Atletico Madrid on Tuesday as they look to cement their winning streak.
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