Tusport - News - Barcelona hunt more history at Alaves amid 11-game surge

Two decades of one‑way history meet present momentum as Barcelona visit Alaves with an 11‑match LaLiga winning run and a record that has silenced Mendizorroza for years. Alaves have not beaten Barça at home since 2001, and across the last 16 league meetings in Vitoria the visitors have won 11, drawn three and lost only twice, with a commanding 34‑7 goal difference. Even the most common scoreline here tells its own story: 0‑2 to Barcelona, a result seen three times. Last season offered little respite for the hosts. Barcelona won both fixtures to nil—1‑0 at home and 3‑0 away—reaffirming a pattern of control that has defined this matchup. Overall, in the last 34 clashes, Barcelona lead 26 wins to four, with four draws and an 86‑26 aggregate. For Alaves, the challenge is as much psychological as tactical: how to disrupt a trend that routinely tilts towards the Blaugrana. One window could matter more than any other. Both teams lean into late drama: Alaves score 24% of their goals between minutes 76‑90, while Barcelona deliver 22% in the same stretch. That timing shapes a likely plot—if the game remains tight into the final quarter‑hour, expect the decisive blows late. Historically, Barcelona’s away control has materialized through patience and precision, often turning balanced contests after the 70‑minute mark into clean, efficient finishes. From a tactical standpoint, Alaves will target a compact mid‑block, fast outlets and restarts to slow Barcelona’s rhythm and test set‑piece phases. Keeping the field short, limiting turnovers in central zones, and attacking space behind Barcelona’s fullbacks are non‑negotiables if the hosts are to threaten. But sustaining focus until the final whistle is just as critical given the late‑goal trend. For Barcelona, the mandate is familiar: dictate tempo, stretch the width early, and trust their structure to create higher‑quality chances as the match matures. Game management—rotations that inject energy past the hour and control of transition moments—often tilts this fixture their way. The 0‑2 pattern underscores a broader truth: the visitors tend to pull away rather than race away. The implications are clear. Barcelona arrive seeking to extend a remarkable streak and reinforce their title posture. Alaves chase a statement performance that would break a 23‑year home hoodoo and reframe their season. In between lies a battleground defined by margins: late minutes, set plays, and the discipline to hold shape under pressure. The numbers back Barcelona; the opportunity urges Alaves. Mendizorroza has seen this movie before—but every streak meets its test.