Back in form, Defensive experiment | Three takeaways from Barcelona 6-1 Deportivo Alaves

Back in form, Defensive experiment | Three takeaways from Barcelona 6-1 Deportivo Alaves Barcelona returned to winning ways against Deportivo Alaves last night at the Spotify Camp Nou as they dispatched six goals past the Spanish side in grand style. It took Barcelona just eight minutes to get on the scoresheet through Raphinha, and the lead was soon doubled by Fermin Lopez , who scored from a tight angle to make it 2-0. A second goal from Raphinha made the score 3-0 in Barcelona’s favour, and Lamine Yamal then capped off the first half with a fourth goal to put the result beyond doubt. The carnage tapered down after the break, but Yamal completed his brace with a cool finish, and Anthony Gordon added the cherry on top with a neat lob over the goalkeeper, completing the demolition. Barca Universal brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 6-1 Deportivo Alaves. Back in form Back to winning ways. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Barcelona’s win over Deportivo Alaves last night followed the same pattern the team’s games have largely followed over the past two months, as it was one-way traffic in the Catalans’ favor. Despite not racking up as many shots on target as they usually do, Barcelona were very efficient with their chances as they buried six goals while also looking to be in complete control throughout the game. The game was similar to how the season started for Barcelona. Somewhere along the way, they got distracted and fell apart in the two games that mattered most, but they now seem to be back on track. Lamine Yamal was not at his best but still racked up a brace, while Raphinha, who was also not at his best, netted two goals as well. Fermin Lopez played in imperious form and left the game as the man of the match, while Anthony Gordon once again showed that his finishing has become more clinical. In midfield, Pedri and Rodri once again pulled the strings in the first half and took the game away from Alaves before they could settle in. After the break, Marc Bernal replaced Pedri and provided a mature performance. All in all, Barcelona showed that they have bounced back from the two harsh setbacks of the season and are back on song. A positive defensive experiment Brian Farinas shone at right-back. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Faced with an acute defensive crisis ahead of the game, Hansi Flick was forced to be creative with his back line last night, and his starting combination broke the headlines. Instead of handing Alejandro Balde a start when it seemed like there was no other option, the manager played Joao Cancelo at left-back and handed Brian Farinas a start at right-back. Further, it was the captain Frenkie de Jong who joined Pau Cubarsi in central defence to hand Gerard Martin some time off – thereby delivering the second selection surprise. With two players playing out of position, one would expect some degree of instability or incoordination in defence, but Barcelona showed no such signs. Full credit to De Jong and Farinas, for both players looked comfortable in the role they were asked to play in. The latter, in fact, had the added pressure of it being his debut but shone in defence. Farinas provided most of what Xavi Espart provided Barcelona, as he was defensively sound and skilled with distribution in tight spaces. His combination play with Lamine Yamal was also promising. De Jong, meanwhile, did not show any signs of rustiness and was alert and quick to react in defence, handing the team serious stability at the back. The fact that Alaves scored their only goal after he left the field comes as a massive testament to his contribution. Much-needed confidence Barcelona have a massive week ahead. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Last week was a massive one for Barcelona as they faced one major opponent in La Liga and one world-class opponent in the UEFA Champions League. Despite having the momentum on their side, they slipped up in both games, and it is clear that there is still disappointment with how the week progressed. Thanks to their strong start to the season in both competitions, however, they could afford the defeats. Now, they stare at yet another critical week with two more massive elite teams staring at them in both competitions. In the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona are set to lock horns with Aston Villa, who recently beat Manchester City and have won all three games in the UEFA Champions League with 12 goals scored in the competition. Their next game, back in the league, is against Atletico Madrid, who are in strong form and closely tailing them on the leaderboard. After the defeats last week, the two games coming up are perhaps the most important games of the season for Barcelona as they will directly impact the team’s position in the two competitions. The win last night over Alaves, in that sense, comes as a massive confidence boost at just the right time for Barcelona. A 6-1 win gives the dressing room the confidence they need, and they will be optimistic about coming out on the right side of both big outings.