Raphinha and Lamine Yamal scored twice each as Barcelona reached 30 points, keeping a two-point lead over Atlético Madrid at the top.
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Barcelona beat Alavés 6–1 at Camp Nou on 31 October, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal scoring twice each to keep them top of La Liga, Reuters reported.
Fermín López and Anthony Gordon also scored as Barcelona reached 30 points, two ahead of Atlético Madrid. Atlético had beaten Levante 2–0 earlier in the day.
“This is what I want to see after two defeats,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said, according to Reuters.
Barcelona had lost 2–1 to Real Madrid in the league and 4–2 at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The Madrid defeat ended a run of nine consecutive league wins, the club said.
Raphinha’s double took him to 15 league goals in 11 appearances. Barcelona said that matched a club benchmark previously achieved by César Rodríguez and Lionel Messi.
Flick secured the result despite a shortage of defenders. Brian Fariñas made his first-team debut at right-back, while Frenkie de Jong partnered Pau Cubarsí in central defence, according to the club.
Barcelona’s opening goal came in the eighth minute. Pedri found López, whose delivery gave Raphinha the chance to finish.
López then scored from a tight angle after receiving a pass from Yamal, putting the hosts two ahead in the 23rd minute.
Alavés threatened during the first half, hitting the crossbar and forcing goalkeeper Joan García to save from Carlos Protesoni, Barcelona’s match report said.
Two more goals before the interval extended the lead to four. López regained possession and supplied Raphinha for his second in the 41st minute, before Yamal scored in added time.
López finished with a goal and two assists. Speaking to Movistar+, he said the early breakthrough had helped open up an Alavés side intent on blocking central passing routes, according to ElDesmarque.
He also said Barcelona had endured a difficult week and welcomed the opportunity to respond in front of their own supporters.
Substitute Gabriel Jesus supplied Yamal for Barcelona’s fifth in the 65th minute. The goal was initially disallowed for offside before a video review overturned the decision, the club said.
Gordon replaced Yamal and scored in the 81st minute after Rodri played him through. Mariano Díaz replied three minutes later, taking advantage of Rodri’s misplaced pass, Reuters reported.
The result gave Barcelona their 10th league victory in 11 matches. The club recorded an attendance of 53,523.
Flick remained uncertain about when injured defenders Jules Koundé, Andreas Christensen and Eric García would return, according to Reuters.
The coach said his side needed to manage its remaining games before the international break without knowing which players would be available.
Barcelona’s next Champions League opponents are Aston Villa, who visit Camp Nou, Reuters reported.
