Barcelona were stunned by Alaves in La Liga on Saturday . Image Source: twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: After having won both of its opening La Liga matches, Luis Enrique’s Barcelona featured in its third league encounter against the newly-promoted Alaves as not only favourites but overwhelmingly so.
With Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta on the bench ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League encounter against Brendan Rodger’s Celtic FC, Luis Enrique decided to field Neymar Jr. who is back in action for his club after winning the first ever Olympic gold in football for Brazil.
The Catalan club also handed debuts to goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and striker Paco Alcacer as it made a unique history of fielding three different goalkeepers in the opening three matches for the first time in the history of the club.
The match started as expected with Barcelona literally dominating Alaves in terms of possession for most of the match. In fact, the newly-promoted visitors were barely able to cross the halfway mark in the opening 10 minutes of the encounter.
FC Barcelona came really close to gain a one-goal-advantage around the 14th-minute mark as Alaves midfielder Daniel Torres nearly deflected into his own goal while intercepting a Denis Suarez pass.
The home team kept the pressure on with a number of attacks through the flanks but the efforts of the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Arda Turan, Aleix Vidal, Neymar and Sergio Busquets couldn’t provide Barcelona with a much-deserved lead as- time and again- the ball either whizzed past or was deflected over the crossbar.
However, soon before half-time Alaves managed to stun the entire Camp Nou as Deyverson successfully found the back of the net courtesy great cross by Kiko from the right flank.
The latter 45 minutes started with a bang as Jeremy Mathieu headed home a Neymar corner as the Catalan side equalised in style soon after the match resumed. The 32-year-old Frenchman had a golden opportunity to double his tally in the 49th minute of the match but Mathieu blazed a sitter from six yards with his left foot.
The visitors successfully netted the ball once again in the 51st minute only to realise later that the goal had been disallowed for offside. With 30 minutes to go, Enrique introduced Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta on the pitch in place of Denis Suarez and Arda Turan respectively only to witness Deportivo Alaves retaking their lead in the 64th minute.
It was the 26-year-old Spanish left winger Ibai Gomez who had successfully slotted the ball home.
The home team exhausted all three of its substitutions the 66th minute when Luis Enrique decided to swap Paco Alcacer with the flamboyant Uruguayan, Luis Suarez.
The substitution ultimately didn’t prove to be quite fruitful as La Blaugrana seemingly struggled to break through for the majority of the last 20 minutes of the match. The minnows fought valiantly until the end in order protect their lead as Luis Enrique’s men were stunned at home prior to their Champions League date with Celtic.
As far as the La Liga table is concerned, Real Madrid is leading the rest of the pack with 12 points while Barcelona and Atletico Madrid linger at the 4th and 5th spot respectively having played three matches-a-piece.
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