Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga on Saturday with a commanding 6-1 victory over Alaves at the Camp Nou, reversing the momentum following consecutive defeats. Raphinha and teenage winger Lamine Yamal each scored twice to lead the charge for the reigning champions.
The win allowed Barcelona to reclaim a two-point lead over second-place Atlético Madrid, who earlier secured a 2-0 victory against Levante. The Catalan side had suffered a Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain and a home Clasico loss to Real Madrid in recent weeks, but those setbacks did not hinder their dominant display on Saturday.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the eighth minute after an assist from Fermin Lopez, who then doubled Barcelona’s advantage in the 23rd minute. Alaves briefly responded through Fermin Lopez’s strike, but Yamal restored Barcelona’s three-goal cushion just before halftime with a low shot from outside the box in stoppage time.
In the second half, Yamal added a fifth goal with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper after a pass from substitute Gabriel Jesus. Anthony Gordon, who also came off the bench, rounded off the rout with a similar chip, making it 6-0 before former Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz scored a late consolation for Alaves.
Coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s response after a difficult week, emphasizing the impact of Raphinha and Yamal. “It was a hard week for us, there was no better place than Camp Nou in front of our fans to bounce back,” Lopez said. Flick also highlighted the performance of Lopez and Yamal, calling their levels encouraging.
Barcelona’s lineup was affected by defensive injuries, leading to Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong featuring at center-back and youth player Brian Farinas making his first start at right-back. Despite these challenges, the team’s attacking prowess dominated the match.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid strengthened their position in the league with a seventh consecutive win, defeating Levante 2-0 in Valencia. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Giuliano Simeone secured the victory, with playmaker Alex Baena assisting on both occasions. Atlético coach Diego Simeone marked his 344th La Liga win as manager, equaling the club’s record held by Luis Aragones. Simeone credited his players for the achievement and urged focus on the long season ahead.
Alaves, now winless in seven matches, remain mid-table in 10th place. Midfielder Ander Guevara called for calm, noting the team’s maturity and determination to recover quickly.
Looking ahead, Barcelona will host Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday before facing Atlético in a crucial league encounter next Sunday. Real Madrid, currently third in La Liga, are set to visit Racing Santander on Sunday as the title race continues to intensify.