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Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga on Saturday night after a 3–1 home victory over Alaves, with Dani Olmo scoring twice to cap an impressive comeback at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou.
The champions were stunned inside the opening minute when Pablo Ibanez put the visitors ahead after Marc Casado failed to clear a corner properly.
However, Hansi Flick’s side responded quickly and confidently, levelling through teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who rifled home after being picked out by the returning Raphinha.
Olmo then put Barca in front midway through the first half, drilling a low finish inside the near post after another assist from Raphinha.
The midfielder wrapped up the points in stoppage time, coolly converting after Yamal set him through to seal the hosts’ fourth straight league win.
The result lifts Barcelona two points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who travel to face Girona on Sunday. At the same time, Atletico Madrid moved up to third following a straightforward 2–0 win over Real Oviedo later in the evening.
Despite celebrating the club’s 126th anniversary earlier in the week, the mood had been dampened by a heavy 3–0 Champions League defeat at Chelsea.
Nevertheless, Flick’s side responded in domestic competition with a controlled display, following up last weekend’s 4–0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao.
Barca were without Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong, while Jules Kounde was left on the bench after scoring an own goal against Chelsea.
Raphinha made his first start since returning from injury, while Marc Bernal also featured from the outset in his first appearance in over a year following knee surgery.
Pedri, meanwhile, was introduced in the second half to a rapturous welcome from more than 45,000 supporters inside the stadium.
Alaves posed more resistance than Bilbao had done the previous week and created chances of their own, with Joan Garcia producing an excellent save before Barca took the lead.
Yamal later struck the post after rounding the goalkeeper, but Olmo’s late goal ensured there would be no comeback.
“They caught us out in the first minute, but we reacted well and kept playing our football,” Olmo said afterwards, while Raphinha admitted that performance levels still needed to rise despite the victory.
Flick echoed those sentiments, admitting his side were careless in possession at times, but he welcomed the timely return of key players ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Atletico.
“I’m happy we got the three points and even happier to have important players back,” he said.
In Madrid, Atletico continued their strong run with a comfortable 2–0 win over bottom club Oviedo at the Metropolitano, with Alexander Sorloth scoring both goals in the first half. The Norwegian striker struck twice from close range, with David Hancko providing the assists.
Diego Simeone’s side are now unbeaten in 13 league matches and sit one point behind Real Madrid and three behind Barcelona.
Simeone hailed Sorloth’s importance, while goalkeeper Jan Oblak insisted Atletico must maintain their momentum in both defence and attack as the season intensifies.
