In a bid to match the all-time La Liga record of 100 points, Alaves has denied newly-crowned Spanish champions Barcelona from reaching the 100-point mark after a 1-0 defeat.
Ibrahim Diabate scored in first-half stoppage time to give Alaves a vital win. The goal lifted Quique Sanchez Flores’s team out of the relegation zone and up to 15th place.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick handed 21-year-old centre-back Alvaro Cortes his debut. He also made several other changes to the team that beat Real Madrid in El Clasico. However, the champions looked tired after their title celebrations.
Barcelona controlled the ball and showed energy through winger Marcus Rashford, but Alaves defended bravely and kept them at bay.
Just before halftime, Antonio Blanco headed a corner back across goal. Diabate fired the ball past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny as Barcelona defenders failed to react quickly.
In the second half, Szczesny pushed away another shot from Diabate. Alaves nearly scored again when Jon Guridi beat the keeper but hit the post with a powerful drive.
Meanwhile, Hansi Flick revealed that he signed a new contract with Barcelona until June 2028. The German coach shared the news at a press conference before the Alaves match.
“I’m happy with what we have achieved. It gives me confidence to continue for another year or two,” Flick told reporters.
He added that while many coaches prefer long contracts, he prefers to take things year by year. “For now, I have until 2028. If everything goes well, we will extend it. This is a good deal for both sides,” he said.