Match ends, Barcelona 5, Alavés 1.
BarcelonaBarcelona5AlavésAlavés1
Lionel Messi and Francisco Trincao scored twice as Barcelona beat Alaves for a seventh consecutive La Liga win.
Trincao opened the scoring from a pass by Ilaix Moriba - both players were making their first La Liga starts - and Messi doubled the lead via the inside of the post from outside the box.
Luis Rioja gave struggling Alaves hope.
Trincao scored again after Messi's shot was saved and then the Argentine netted an excellent 25-yard strike before Junior Firpo's close-range fifth.
Messi and Trincao's doubles both came on landmarks days.
Messi, 33, was making his 505th La Liga appearance, equalling Xavi's club record. Trincao, 21, was making the first La Liga start of his career - although he has been a regular off the bench and in cups this season.
Both players had goals disallowed for offside, with Messi's ruled out by the video assistant referee for an exceptionally close call on Antoine Griezmann.
Barcelona move up to second with the victory, albeit eight points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 28MinguezaSubstituted forDestat 72'minutes
- 21de JongSubstituted forPjanicat 72'minutes
- 15Lenglet
- 24Firpo
- 27Kourouma KouroumaSubstituted forGonzálezat 64'minutes
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forUmtitiat 45'minutes
- 12Puig
- 17Machado Trincão
- 10Messi
- 7GriezmannSubstituted forDembéléat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Dest
- 8Pjanic
- 11Dembélé
- 13Murara Neto
- 16González
- 18Alba
- 19Fernandes Siqueira
- 23Umtiti
- 26Peña
- 29De la Fuente
- 30Collado
Alavés
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Pacheco
- 21AguirregabiriaBooked at 17minsSubstituted forLaguardiaat 45'minutes
- 2RodríguezBooked at 53mins
- 22Lejeune
- 3Duarte
- 16Méndez
- 6Battaglia
- 8PinaSubstituted forPonsat 72'minutes
- 17CórdobaSubstituted forRiojaat 45'minutes
- 9JoseluSubstituted forSilva Acostaat 81'minutes
- 7PérezSubstituted forSainzat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Laguardia
- 11Rioja
- 13Sivera
- 14Silva Acosta
- 18Franco Alviz
- 19García Sánchez
- 20Pons
- 24Jota
- 26López
- 29Sainz
- 36Abqar
- 37Pellistri
- Referee:
- Jorge Figueroa Vázquez
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamAlavés
- Possession
- Home74%
- Away26%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 5, Alavés 1.
Post update
Foul by Trincão (Barcelona).
Post update
Rubén Duarte (Alavés) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Lionel Messi tries a through ball, but Trincão is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona).
Post update
Deyverson (Alavés) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Riqui Puig.
Post update
Foul by Junior Firpo (Barcelona).
Post update
Deyverson (Alavés) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Clément Lenglet (Barcelona).
Post update
Deyverson (Alavés) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Alavés. Borja Sainz replaces Lucas Pérez.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Ousmane Dembélé replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Substitution
Substitution, Alavés. Deyverson replaces Joselu.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 5, Alavés 1. Junior Firpo (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann.
Post update
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona).
Post update
Víctor Laguardia (Alavés) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 4, Alavés 1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 3, Alavés 1. Trincão (Barcelona) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
