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Barcelona versus Alaves kicks off at 20:00 GMT (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT) on Saturday, October 31 with live coverage in the UK on Disney Plus.
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After winning 5-2 at Betis last Saturday, Barcelona were perfect this season. Two defeats later, Hansi Flick’s side return to Camp Nou on Saturday needing a response against Alaves, the last team to beat them in La Liga with a win at Mendizorrotza on May 13.
Barca won their first 11 matches of the season in all competitions, but results have unravelled quickly. Paris Saint-Germain beat them 4-2 in Paris in the Champions League, then Kylian Mbappe’s double handed Real Madrid a 2-1 win in the Clasico at Camp Nou last Sunday, ending Barca’s nine-game winning start in the league.
They remain top on 27 points, but the gap at the top has narrowed dramatically with Atletico Madrid two points behind and Real Madrid three shy of the leaders.
Barca’s record this season is still outstanding. They have scored 40 goals in 10 league games, and the Clasico defeat ended a run of 23 straight home league wins.
Alaves will need no reminding of their last meeting with Barcelona, winning 1-0 through Ibrahim Diabate’s goal days after Barca had been crowned champions.
The Babazorros enter this game in poor form, despite sitting seventh with 12 points. Alaves have lost four and drawn two of their last six league games, equalising in the 89th minute to draw 1-1 at home to Malaga last time out.
They have conceded only 11 goals – the same as Barcelona – but have scored just 14.
Former Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz has been their key attacking player, with three goals and four assists in 10 league appearances.
Spain
| # | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 11 | 29 | 27 | L W W W W |
| 2 | Atletico Madrid | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 25 | W W W W W |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 10 | 15 | 24 | W W W L W |
| 4 | Real Betis | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 20 | D L W D W |
| 5 | Real Sociedad | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 19 | W W W W L |
| 6 | Sevilla | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 17 | W L D L W |
| 7 | Alaves | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 12 | D L L D L |
| 8 | Athletic Club | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 12 | W L D D D |
| 9 | Celta Vigo | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 12 | D W D W D |
| 10 | Villarreal | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 12 | W D L W W |
| 11 | Deportivo La Coruna | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 11 | L D L D L |
| 12 | Osasuna | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 20 | -10 | 11 | L W L D L |
| 13 | Racing Santander | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 26 | -11 | 11 | W L D L L |
| 14 | Levante | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 19 | -3 | 10 | L W D D L |
| 15 | Elche | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 17 | -3 | 10 | W D D W L |
| 16 | Rayo Vallecano | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 20 | -8 | 9 | L D D W L |
| 17 | Getafe | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 15 | -10 | 9 | L D L W L |
| 18 | Espanyol | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 8 | L L D L L |
| 19 | Valencia | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 17 | -10 | 6 | L D D L W |
| 20 | Malaga | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 19 | -12 | 5 | D L D L L |
Barcelona’s injury problems are mounting. Xavi Espart, who has been filling in at right-back, is facing around seven weeks out with an ankle injury suffered in the Clasico.
Dani Olmo (adductor), Roony Bardghji (knee) and Eric Garcia (thigh) are sidelined while Jules Kounde (ankle) and Andreas Christensen (thigh) are both major doubts.
Alejandro Balde, who replaced Espart during the first half agianst Madrid, is expected to make a rare start, with Joao Cancelo moving to right-back.
Lamine Yamal, who missed out on the top prize at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony to Harry Kane, is likely to start on the right, with Raphinha through the middle.
Anthony Gordon has only one league goal for Barcelona, but the England international has four assists in nine Liga appearances and should keep his place on the left.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong made his comeback from a knee injury as a substitute against Madrid.
For Alaves, centre-back Facundo Garces and midfielder Mikel Rodriguez are both out with knee injuries, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape.
Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Alejandro Balde, Rodri, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal, Anthony Gordon, Raphinha
Alaves: Antonio Sivera, Angel Perez, Nahuel Tenaglia, Ville Koski, Nicolas Valentini, Abde Rebbach, Carles Alena, Antonio Blanco, Pablo Ibanez, Mariano Diaz, Lucas Boye
Barcelona are the overwhelming favourites and a momentum-restoring win looks likely. They have one clean sheet in their last nine matches in all competitions and none in their last three, which bodes well for low-scoring Alaves being able to find the net.