Barcelona Reclaim La Liga Summit with Dominant 6-1 Win Over Alaves

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha each score twice as Barcelona recover from last week’s El Clasico loss to return to the top of La Liga.

Published 1 Nov 2026

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal each netted a brace as Barcelona thrashed Alaves 6-1, reclaiming the La Liga lead and bouncing back from two damaging defeats over the past week.

Earlier on Saturday, second-placed Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 victory at Levante, but Barcelona moved two points clear of the Rojiblancos with a commanding win over the Basque visitors at Camp Nou.

Reeling from a Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain and last weekend’s home El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid, Hansi Flick’s side rediscovered their form on Saturday.

Raphinha scored twice in the first half, bookending a Fermin Lopez strike, while Yamal found the net just before halftime.

Yamal added a second goal midway through the second half, and substitute Anthony Gordon netted Barcelona’s sixth before Mariano Diaz pulled one back for Alaves.

“It was a difficult week for us. There was no better place than Camp Nou, in front of our fans, to bounce back,” Lopez told Movistar.

“They make the difference—Lamine and Raphinha. With them, we will achieve great things.”

A minute of silence was observed before the day’s matches in memory of the 69 people killed in a train crash in the province of Toledo on Wednesday.

Barcelona host Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday before traveling to face Atletico next Sunday in a pivotal La Liga showdown at the top of the table.

Alaves remain in 10th place despite going seven matches without a victory.

“We have to turn the page quickly,” midfielder Ander Guevara said. “There is no need to sound the alarms. We know we are in a poor run of form, but we are a mature and humble team.”

Atletico Extend Winning Streak to Seven

Earlier in Valencia, Diego Simeone’s Atletico briefly moved a point clear of the Catalan giants as Alejandro Grimaldo and Giuliano Simeone scored against Levante.

The victory marked Atletico’s seventh consecutive league win, maintaining their strong form and increasing pressure on the reigning champions.

“I am very happy with the team’s work,” coach Simeone told Movistar.

“We are still far from the end of the season. We will continue to take it one game at a time.”

Alex Baena, the visitors’ primary creative outlet, provided both assists as Diego Simeone recorded his 344th La Liga victory as Atletico coach, matching the club record set by Luis Aragones.

“I do not view it as mine alone; it belongs to my players and everyone who has been with me for so many years,” said Simeone, who began coaching Atletico in 2011.

In Sunday’s other fixtures, third-placed Real Madrid, under Jose Mourinho, will visit Racing Santander.

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