VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – OCTOBER 31: Deportivo Alaves’ Tomas Pina pulls Barcelona’s Lionel Messi [] shirt off during the La Liga Santander game between Deportivo Alavés and FC Barcelona at the Estadio de Mendizorroza on October 31, 2020 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Sporting stadiums in Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, as government social distancing laws ban fans inside venues, this who leads games behind closed doors (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce / Getty Images)
FC Barcelona took on Alaves away on Saturday Here is the result, a summary of the action and what we learned from the La Liga game
Birthday boy Ansu Fati was rewarded with a nod, as was Ousmane Dembele for his strong Juventus midweek with a forward four attacking also made up of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann
And Koeman looked disgusted again This time he got a crack himself, instead of trying to place someone else, and his wide shot really should have been in the bottom corner to celebrate his 18th in style
Cutting off his visitors during a counterattack, Edgar Mendez’s shot parried Neto and spilled into his box with a quarter of an hour’s stoppage
Shot down to the edge of the box by a reserved Deyverson, he didn’t attempt his typical curling shot towards the top locker and instead opted for a tough, low option that got stuck on the line
Outstanding during the season replacing Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the Brazilian undid all his hard work by offering Luis Rioja the opener
Gerard Pique’s backpass could have been better, okay.But Neto is not Alisson, and should have cleared rather than trying to dribble past the striker, who stole the ball from him and then kicked into an empty net
With captain sanctioned for dissent, it turned into another night on the road to forget after the pivot and center-back were booked later on the same blow
You’d expect Koeman’s team speech to be ‘colorful’, to say the least. Yet one couldn’t help but think the Dutchman had chosen his wrong choice. team and that changes were needed Pedri was seen warming up before the whistle, and tonight could have done so with the injection from Riqui Puig – had he been part of the day’s squad
It was a triple substitution from Koeman, with Pedri effectively entering the fray alongside Miralem Pjanic and Francisco Trincao
Boys Lenglet and Busquets were hooked while a flat Dembele, unable to extend its purple spot, was also shot
By installing Messi close to the hour, his contribution was already much better than that of Busquets
Set up by a tackle on Fati, the Frenchman jumped into the box and took a charge against him and his teammates in the 63rd minute
Trincao was the offender, having run behind the back line to connect with a delicious Frenkie de Jong pass
The Portuguese played a quick shot across the box to get Griezmann home, but with 20 minutes remaining there was still hope that a number 7 clearly in a better mood could find something else
Pjanic refused by an excellent Fernando Pacheco, Pique blocked with a header on the line – Barça had to make the break
Frustratingly, they were rewarded with at least four or five turns in quick succession, which came to nothing
Finishing their night tied 1-1, it was the second consecutive session not to capitalize on improving morale and momentum after a strong performance on the continent
Moving further away from the title race, they are eight points behind leaders Real Madrid, 12th, who is also a place above their opponents here today while amassing the same tally
The Blaugrana’s worst start in 25 years to a national campaign continues, and it seems Koeman has learned little from Getafe’s defeat a fortnight ago
Saving Philippe Coutinho from injury, he had the choice of a full squad but still couldn’t find the right mix of players to respond to a frustrated Messi
In the next two matches before the international break, Pedri and Pjanic have a strong case to start considering the impact they have had off the bench
Now based in Barcelona after six years in São Paulo, I have written at length on these topics through insights and analysis while also covering match reports for
Now based in Barcelona after six years in São Paulo, I have written at length on these topics through insights and analysis while also covering match reports for tournaments such as the Copa America In addition to write for Forbes Sports, I edit Yellow & Green Football: a site about Brazilian football which is part of the Guardian Sport Network and partner of O Globo
Deportivo Alavés, FC Barcelona, La Liga, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Ronald Koeman
World news – United States – FC Barcelona 1-1 Alaves: result, summary and what we learned
