Tusport - News - Barcelona chase 12th straight LaLiga win at Alaves

History and current form collide as Barcelona visit Alaves with an 11-match LaLiga winning streak and overwhelming head-to-head dominance. The most common scoreline when Alaves host Barca is 0-2, recorded three times, and the broader data paints a familiar picture: in the last 16 league meetings in Vitoria, Barcelona have won 11, drawn three and lost only two, with a commanding 34-7 goal difference. Alaves’ last home win over the Catalans dates back to 2001, underscoring the size of the task facing the hosts. The storyline writes itself: can Alaves defy two decades of home frustration, or will Barcelona extend a surge that has become the defining LaLiga trend of the season? Last year’s clean sweep—1-0 at home and 3-0 away for Barca—reinforced the gap. Yet one number offers a twist: both teams are strong closers. Alaves score 24% of their goals between minutes 76-90, while Barcelona hit 22% in that same window. Expect the decisive moments to come late, where control, conditioning, and bench impact matter most. From a tactical lens, Alaves are likely to compress space centrally, protect the box, and search for transitions and set pieces. Their best chance is to keep the game level into the final quarter-hour and lean into those late-scoring tendencies. Barcelona, by contrast, will target territorial control, circulation to stretch the defensive block, and patient pressure to create high-quality looks. The visitors’ historical 86-26 aggregate edge across 34 meetings (26 Barca wins, four Alaves wins, four draws) reflects that pattern: control first, breakthrough next. Key trends to watch: the repeatability of 0-2 away wins for Barcelona; whether Alaves can turn late pressure into goals rather than near-misses; and if Barca’s 11-match LaLiga run, plus an additional six-game streak noted in recent data, fuels confidence or invites risk management. The psychological layer is clear—Alaves must break a long home hoodoo, while Barcelona must manage expectation and avoid complacency. Implications: a Barcelona victory would reinforce their title credentials and the notion that tight, low-margin games still tilt their way, especially late. For Alaves, even a draw would signal progress against a historically dominant opponent. Given the numbers, Barcelona remain firm favorites, but the clock—from minute 76 onward—may be where this contest is truly decided.