Barcelona seeks win over Alavés to retain La Liga lead

Barcelona will host Alavés on Saturday at 21:00 as they aim to recover from a week of defeats and stay atop the Spanish league.

Saturday, 21:00 – Match kickoff

Barcelona host Alavés in the 11th round of La Liga. Coach Hansi Flick’s side needs a victory to remain league leaders after Atletico Madrid defeated Levante earlier in the day.

Recent setbacks

Barcelona suffered a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stage on Thursday. Two days later they were beaten by Real Madrid in the league classic, leaving Mourinho’s team three points behind.

Alavés form

Alavés opened the season strongly but have gone six matches without a win, collecting only two points from a possible 18.

Team news

Barcelona will deploy midfielder Frenkie de Jong as a central defender for the first time. Alavés will see Brian Fariñas make his debut at left‑back.

Current standings

With a win, Barcelona can maintain their position at the top of La Liga. A loss or draw could see Atletico overtake them, while Alavés will look to end their winless run.

Why it matters: The result will determine whether Barcelona can preserve their league lead after back‑to‑back defeats, while Alavés hopes to halt a six‑game slump that has left them near the bottom of the table.