Deportivo Alavés 1-3 FC Barcelona: summary, score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 23/24

FT: Alaves 1-3 FC Barcelona

Not what you would call a glittering performance from FC Barcelona in Vitoria tonight but one that gets the job done as Vitor Roque will, no doubt generate the headlines for his brief role in the action.

Goals from Lewandowski and Gundogan had the Catalan side ahead despite Alaves pulling one back through Samu.

The Brazilian was brought on in the 63rd minute, slotted home Barcelona's third in the 67th and was awarded a second yellow card in the 72nd. 

Alaves ran out of ideas and Barcelona managed to control the final minutes of the game to, momentarily move into third place in the LaLiga table. 

The whistle sounds and it ends 1-3 for Alaves in Vitoria.

Barça move to third (for the moment) in LaLiga.

Sola is carded.

The minutes just ticking down now and it looks like the Vitor Roque goal was enough to kill off any hopes the home side had in mounting a comeback.

Vitor Roque in the news

We'll have 6 minutes of added time.

Lamine Yamal runs the length of the pitch and has a speculative left footed drive that fails to trouble the Alaves goal.

Alaves' time is running out and it appears that the points will be heading to Barcelona and the men from Vitoria's inability to beat Barça continues....

23 years and counting for the last Alaves home win over FCB.

Christensen and Cubarsí are replaced by Iñigo and Romeu

Fermin shoots from an acute angle and forces Sivera to save well.

Barcelona still in charge despite the red card awarded to Vitor Roque.

Hagi and Benavidez take the places of Blanco and Tenaglia.

We're into the final fifteen.

Barcelona down to ten men but Alaves starting to look tired now.

Fermin Lopez is on for Pedri.

Vitor Roque is given another yellow and that equals a red and the Brazilian is off.

He clips Marin and that call was harsh from the match official.

Barcelona are down to ten men and Xavi is absolutely furious. 

Twenty minutes remain at Mendizorroza and that third Barcelona goal has quietened the fans here.

Alaves need to find a second and quick if they are to get anything from this contest.

Alaves changes

Vitor Roque now carded as he collides into Alaves' Tenaglia.

Alaves 1-3 FCB

Tigrinho bags Barça's third.

An hour gone in Vitoria as the game is beautifully poised with the Samu goal keeping the contest alive. 

19,480 is the official attendance here for tonight's game.

Vitor Roque is on and replaces the injured Gundogan.

Alaves win another corner, the Basque side ahead 8-3 on that particular stat.

Barcelona still in control possession wise (30-70 (%)

Wow, what a few minutes with goals at either end of the pitch.

Alaves 1-2 FCB

Rioja is free and drives a left footer which fails to trouble Iñaki Peña and is a wasted chance for the home side.

As we saw through much of the first half, Alaves pressing high and trying to deny Barça time on the ball.

So, off we go in Vitoria.

Barça start the action.

Hector Fort is on the pitch and looks poised to make an entrance for Joao Cancelo.

The teams are poised to return to the field of play.

HT: Alaves 0-1 Barça

Just the Lewandowski goal separating the teams at the interval with Gundogan and Lewandowski combining well to put the visitors ahead in Vitoria.

Alaves have gone close with the best chances falling to Guridi and Samu.

Peña is called into action once again as he palms the ball away from the danger zone as the whistle sounds.

We'll have one minute of additional time.

Last minute of the half.

Barcelona lead but have seen Alaves carve open a series of chances.

Guridi with the best chance for the home side so far.

Wonderful noise levels from the Alaves faithful.

One of the most atmospheric grounds in Spain's top flight.

Samu almost gives the fans something to bet excited about as he steers the ball inches wide.

Into the final five minutes of the half and Barcelona remain in front but Alaves are still knocking on the door.

The balls strikes Cancelo on the hand (which was behind his back at the time).

Alaves appeal but the referee says no dice for a penalty appeal.

Best chance of the night for Alaves as Guridi is free and heads straight at Peña.

A let-off for the visitors as Guevara now is gifted a chance and Gundogan robs the ball.

Things getting a little tetchy now after a coming together between Blanco and Lewandowski with tackles flying in.

Another corner for Alaves and another chance for Sola to deliver. This one is overhit ...

Barcelona break but Alaves get bodies behind the ball and the initiative breaks down.

Alaves 0-1 FCB

Lewandowski opens the scoring.

The Polish striker moves to nine goals in LaLiga this season.

Samu flashes a header just wide of Iñaki Peña's goal from a Sola corner.

Barcelona bossing things now in terms of possession (25-75 (%)

Barcelona now starting to dominate things in terms of possession.

Still nothing resembling a clear cut chance so far.

Samu feels he was fouled and makes his feelings clear to the referee and is carded for his words.

We pass the ten minutes mark and Barcelona seem to have steadied the ship after a nervy start.

Araujo gets a header off but Marin blocks and it's easy for the keeper to gather.

Alex Sola is getting so much time and space down their right hand channel and on three occasions the 24-year-old has been free and looks dangerous for the home side.

Pedri gives the ball away cheaply and Alaves break and it requires a solid intervention from Paña in the Barça goal.

Alaves smell blood.

Barcelona already seem disjointed and void of confidence.

Sola breaks again and looks to find Samu and the ball is cleared for a corner.

Barcelona already on the rack.

Big, big call for a penalty as Sola breaks into the box and is hacked down by Cubarsí.

Was Sola offside initially, yes.... the flag is up.

Alaves start the action.

The big question pre-game is where Christensen will play today?

The Dane could be used in a pivot position and the Catalans use a back three.

The sides take to the pitch with Alaves in their classic blue and white striped shirts. Barcelona today are in their change colours sporting their Senyera jersey today.

FCB warm up well underway

Less than 15 minutes until kick-off in Vitoria.

Can Alaves secure a first home win over the Catalan giants in 23 years?

A reminder of the teams ahead of this evening's clash in Vitoria.

Defeats to Athletic in the cup and at home to Villarreal last Saturday, capped off a terrible week for the Catalan side which culminated in Xavi Hernandez confirming his resignation as Barça boss at the end of the current season.

Three league wins and just that Copa del Rey defeat away in Bilbao blotting the copybook for Alaves in their past four outings.

With that recent run of wins, the side from Vitoria have climbed to the comfort zone that is 11th place in the table.

Still much football to be played but confident that El Glorioso won't be involved in a relegation dogfight this season.

A Barcelona win would edge the Catalan side closer to Girona who play later tonight (home vs Real Sociedad) and Real Madrid who face Atletico in the city derby tomorrow night.

Alaves XI out

Luis Garcia Plaza names his side with all eyes on No. 22 Samu, with the striker on loan from Atletico Madrid generating plenty of headlines this season with solid dislays.

FCB XI confirmed

Xavi has named his side for today's clash in Vitoria with Polish striker Robert Lewandowski to be supported by Yamal.

Hat trick of wins sees Alavés leave relegation zone

Nine points from the past three matches has seen Luis Garcia Plaza's side stride up the league table and the men from Vitoria are not staring over the shoulder at the relegation zone.

A great run of results from a team where the manager appeared to be just one defeat away from the sack.

Barça unbeaten in Vitoria for 23 years

The Catalan side have an impressive record in the Basque capital and have not been beaten by a Deportivo Alavés side in 23 years. 

The corresponding fixture last season saw Barça run out with a narrow 0-1 win with Frenkie De Jong bagging the winner in the 87th minute.

Barça blighted by injury

Despite trailing league leaders Real Madrid by ten points, the Catalan club have vowed to battle to the end of the campaign and look to maintain the winning way after the midweek win over Osasuna. Xavi does have to contend with eight key absentees (Ter Stegen, Balde, Marcos Alonso, Gavi, Raphinha, Sergi Roberto, João Félix and Ferran Torres) and four carrying knocks (Araújo, Cancelo, Christensen and Lamine). The glimmer of good news for Culès is the return of defender Iñigo Martínez returns after a relapse suffered in the Copa del Rey clash away to Barbastro.

Munuera to officiate

Juan Martínez Munuera has been selected by the Spanish FA as match official for the LaLiga matchday 23 game at Mendizorroza. 

What time does Alavés - Barcelona start?

Alavés - Barcelona will be played on today, Saturday February 3, with kick of at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT.

Alaves have taken 10 points from their past four games but both the Basque and Catalan sides came up short in the Copa del Rey with Athletic Club beating Alaves in the Round of 16 and Barça at the quarter-final stage.

Hello and a warm welcome to our live LaLiga coverage as Barcelona travel to the Basque capital of Vitoria to face an in-form Deportivo Alaves side.