A goal from Frenkie de Jong in the end rescued Barcelona in Vitoria against an Alava that complicated his life, in a game that opened in the second half, when the opportunities came for both teams. With this victory, the Barça team is just one point away from the Champions League.
Driven by emergencies, Barça began to follow the planned script. He carried the baton and the first arrivals in the opponent’s area were his, although he did not suffer from Alabès. Luuk de Jong, in the 13th minute, starred in the first warning with face and eye. Shot after the pass of Pedri that the Dutchman could not direct to goal with success. The home team pressed more and more on the exit of the Barça ball, very insistent in the game on the wings.
The minutes went by, the game was unseen and the opportunities were scarce. Barça did not arrive much, nor did Alabès. As the first half drew to a close, a Luis Rioja cavalcade ended with the ball at the feet of Sant Martí Vell midfielder Pere Pons, who was unable to connect with a good shot, without too many problems for Ter Stegen.
The thing comes to life
Aware that they needed to react and do something to try to win the game, Barça returned from the locker room with more momentum and came much closer to the goal defended by Pacheco in the second 45 minutes. Of course, he arrived more, although he didn’t finish his career with eyes and eyes. On the other hand, Pere Pons’s play was disheartening, but his shot went just wide, though.
The game opened up more and both teams easily reached the opposing area, but again it was the ball that was the resource that gave Barça the best results. After 63 minutes, Luuk de Jong could have reduced the lead with a blistering strike from the left wing, had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors’ keeper. The striker was in the mouth of the goal, but came across the excellent response of Fernando Pacheco, which prevented the first goal of the game to go on the scoreboard.
Xavi Hernández’s team changed the chip with respect to the first half and sharpened their attack in search of victory with a more offensive game, but Alabès did not panic and circled the territory of Ter Stegen, until A free kick just outside of the visitors’ penalty area after 74 minutes could have resulted in another goal, but Tomás Pina got a hand out and tipped the ball over the bar.
Jason Remeseiro was, after 80 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors’ lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the center, but home side’s keeper Joselu made the save.
And when it looked like the match would end in a draw, Frenkie de Jong appeared to rescue three gold points for Barcelona. After 87 minutes Ferrán Torres’s Jordi Alba had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony.
