Lamine Yamal and Raphinha Score Twice as Barcelona Routs Alaves 6-1

Barcelona returned to winning ways in dominant fashion on Saturday, thrashing Deportivo Alaves 6-1 at Camp Nou to reclaim the top spot in La Liga. Hansi Flick's side entered the fixture looking to recover from consecutive defeats, including a Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a domestic Clasico setback against Real Madrid. With the victory, the defending champions moved two points clear at the summit of the league table.

Teenage winger Lamine Yamal put behind the disappointment of finishing third in the 2026 Ballon d'Or standings by delivering a stellar performance on the pitch. Yamal collected 881 points in the prestigious voting behind runner-up Kylian Mbappe and winner Harry Kane, while also securing the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year. On Saturday, the 19-year-old responded emphatically by netting two goals and providing an assist against Alaves.

The scoring began in the eighth minute when La Liga's top scorer Raphinha opened the account following a buildup initiated by Fermin Lopez. Yamal then turned provider in the 23rd minute, slipping a pass through to Lopez, who doubled the advantage. Raphinha added his second just before the interval, and Yamal quickly followed suit in first-half stoppage time with an instinctive low strike from the edge of the penalty area to make it 4-0.

Alaves struggled to contain Barcelona's potent attack throughout the match. Yamal added his second goal and Barcelona's fifth in the 64th minute with a delicate finish over the goalkeeper after receiving a pass from substitute Gabriel Jesus. Substitute Anthony Gordon chipped home the hosts' sixth goal before Mariano Diaz scored a late consolation for Alaves near the end of regulation time.

Despite the dual braces from Yamal and Raphinha, the official Man of the Match award went to Fermin Lopez. The midfielder orchestrated much of Barcelona's attacking play, recording two assists alongside his first-half goal. The win served as a vital morale boost for Flick's squad as they prepare to face Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday before a crucial league clash against second-place Atletico Madrid next Sunday.

Statistical milestones also highlighted Yamal's performance, as he became the first player since Lionel Messi to reach double figures in both goals and assists before the month of November, according to data from MisterChip. The achievement underscores his growing influence at Camp Nou, even as analysts continue to evaluate his consistency and impact in high-stakes fixtures against Europe's elite clubs.