Barcelona secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Alaves, temporarily resuming the top spot on the LALIGA standings, pending Real Madrid's next match. The game, reminiscent of their struggle against Celta Vigo, saw Barcelona initially contend with a resilient Alaves defense, resulting in an end-to-end first half before asserting control in the second.

Alaves stunned the Camp Nou crowd almost immediately, with Pablo Ibáñez scoring from a corner in the first minute. Barcelona quickly regrouped, building rhythm to equalize in the 8th minute when Lamine Yamal capitalized on a loose ball in the box, firing it into the net. Barcelona continued their offensive push, taking the lead in the 25th minute as Dani Olmo clinically finished from a Raphinha cutback, sending them into halftime with a 2-1 advantage.

The second half was dominated by Barcelona, who created numerous opportunities to extend their lead. Yamal, Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski all tested Alaves' impressive goalkeeper, Antonio Sivera. The third goal eventually arrived late in the game when Alaves' head coach, Eduardo Coudet, brought on an extra attacker in pursuit of an equalizer. Barcelona exploited the newfound space, with Yamal setting up Olmo for his second goal of the evening, sealing the 3-1 win.

Barcelona forward Raphinha, who captained the team on the day, expressed satisfaction with the victory and the team's ability to come back after conceding early. This match marked Raphinha's return to the starting lineup for the first time since September, following a hamstring injury sustained against Real Sociedad. His return was highly anticipated, with analysis suggesting his presence would enhance Barcelona's defensive press and attacking prowess. These predictions proved accurate, as Raphinha contributed significantly defensively and was instrumental in creating Barcelona's first two goals.

Raphinha highlighted the