Deportivo Alaves 0 Barcelona 2: Alena and Suarez put an excellent performance
Barcelona will be LaLiga champion if Atletico Madrid loses at home to Valencia after Ernesto Valverde's side won against Alaves.
Arthur alongside Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were on the bench with Ivan Rakitic rested entirely, a great move by Valverde to rest his key players but at the same time putting a strong team on pitch to get a comfortable win. Carles Alena was named in the starting 11, making his fifth LaLiga start of the season, with Arturo Vidal in midfield.
Barcelona are now just three points away from clinching the LaLiga title after the Catalan Giants comfortably win 2-0 at the Mendizorrotza Stadium against Alves. Thanks to second half goals from Carles Aleña and Luis Suarez scoring a penalty that came from a hand ball. Pique having a goal ruled out for offside, but thanks to the VAR review, instead led to a penalty for a handball by Tomas Pina.
Suarez and Philippe Coutinho had early efforts blocked and the striker then saw his shot kept out by the legs of goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. Barcelona with 77% position and 88% pass accuracy had a good game with promising youngsters like Carles Alena getting on the score sheet. Sergi Roberto, who switched from left-back to right-back at half-time, helped with setting up Alena with a clever pass which ended up at the back of the net, beating Pacheco with a placed left-footed finish. Despite Barca taking a two-goal advantage Valverde sent Messi on for Dembele.
Barca will host Levante at home on Saturday, but Valverde's attentions will be on the game against Liverpool as the treble becomes more realistic. Since Valverde took charge in 2017 Barca has lost only three times in LaLiga. It is fair to say Barca has not always been at its fluent best this season, but somehow has managed to get some positive result out of it.
