Honestly, if you only look at the scorelines when these two meet, you are missing the point. Most people see Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés on the calendar and immediately pencil in three points for the Catalans. They think it's just another day at the office for the heavyweights. But if you actually watched their last clash at the renovated Camp Nou in late 2025, you know that’s basically a myth.
Football isn't played on paper.
That November match was a wild ride. Alavés actually stunned the crowd by scoring in the very first minute. Pablo Ibáñez found the net before half the fans had even sat down. It took a brace from Dani Olmo and a moment of magic from Lamine Yamal to drag Barca back into it for a 3-1 win. But that game exposed something. It showed that Hansi Flick’s high-wire act—that aggressive high defensive line—is a double-edged sword that Alavés knows exactly how to sharpen.
The Tactical Chess Match You Missed
Everyone talks about Barcelona’s "DNA," but under Flick, it's morphed into something more German and way more vertical. They don't just want the ball; they want to suffocate you. Against a team like Deportivo Alavés, this is kinda dangerous.
Alavés, managed by Eduardo Coudet (who took over after Luis García Plaza), has leaned into this "gritty underdog" persona. They don't try to out-pass Barcelona. That would be suicide. Instead, they use a low block that’s tighter than a drum and wait for that one over-the-top ball to catch Pau Cubarsí or Gerard Martín out of position.
In their most recent meeting, the data told a story of "false dominance." Barcelona had nearly 70% possession and completed almost 700 passes. On the surface, it looks like a beatdown. But Alavés actually created two "big chances" to Barca's four. They weren't just defending; they were lurking.
Why the Left Flank is the Secret Battleground
Most of the cameras follow Lamine Yamal on the right. Makes sense, right? The kid is a human highlight reel. But the real tactical war in Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés usually happens on the opposite side.
Because Alejandro Balde or Gerard Martín push so high, the space behind them is a massive green pasture for Alavés wingers like Carlos Vicente. In the 3-1 win, Flick had to sub in Andreas Christensen late just to stop the bleeding on the counter-attack. It's a game of chicken. How much is Flick willing to gamble on offense before the Alavés break becomes a goal?
The "Rashford" Factor and Squad Depth
Wait, did you catch that? Marcus Rashford in a Barca shirt?
Yeah, the rumors from late 2025 weren't just tabloid fodder. In the November match, Rashford was actually the one drawing yellow cards from Alavés defenders like Antonio Blanco. Having that kind of direct, blistering pace alongside Lewandowski changes the math for Alavés. They can't just double-team Yamal anymore.
But Alavés has their own weapons. Or they would, if their medical room wasn't so crowded.
- Jon Guridi (Knee injury)
- Hugo Novoa - Abdel Abqar
When these two face off again in May 2026 at Mendizorrotza, the fitness of these key Alavés grinders will be the deciding factor. If Alavés is healthy, that stadium becomes a graveyard for giants. They’ve done it before, and they almost did it again at the Camp Nou.
The Mental Hurdle for the Underdog
There’s a weird psychological thing that happens with Deportivo Alavés. They have this "nothing to lose" energy that makes them terrifying for the first 60 minutes. But against the elite, they tend to blink.
Look at the stats: Alavés has 4 wins against Barca in their history compared to 22 losses. That's a huge gap. But three of those draws and a couple of those wins came when Barcelona was feeling "comfortable." Flick has been vocal about this. He literally told the press after the last game that he was frustrated because the team lacked "intensity and control" despite winning.
He knows that against Alavés, if you coast for even ten minutes, you get punished.
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What Really Happened with the High Line?
There was a lot of chatter on Reddit and among local pundits that Flick "fixed" the defense for the Alavés game. That's sort of true, but mostly a misunderstanding.
He didn't drop the line deeper. He just changed who was in the middle. Moving Eric García into a DM role provided a "safety valve" that wasn't there before. It allowed the center-backs to stay aggressive while someone actually watched the back door. Alavés tried to exploit the space behind the fullbacks eight times—resulting in eight offsides.
That wasn't luck. That was a trap.
What to Watch for in the Next Encounter
When May 13, 2026, rolls around, the stakes will be through the roof. Barcelona will likely be fighting for the La Liga title, potentially just points ahead of Real Madrid or Atletico. Alavés, meanwhile, usually finds themselves in that mid-table scrap where every point is a lifeline.
Keep an eye on these specific details:
- The First 15 Minutes: Alavés scores early or they don't score at all. They rely on the shock factor.
- Lamine Yamal’s Gravity: Watch how many Alavés players drift toward him even when he doesn't have the ball. It opens up the entire middle for Dani Olmo.
- The Mendizorrotza Crowd: It’s one of the loudest, most hostile places in Spain. If Barca doesn't score early, the pressure becomes a physical weight.
People love to call this a "routine" game. It’s not. It’s a tactical grind where the smallest mistake—a missed clearance by Marc Casadó or a slow recovery by Jules Koundé—can derail a title race.
If you’re looking to get the most out of watching the next Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés match, stop watching the ball. Watch the Alavés strikers. If they are staying on the shoulder of the last defender, they are waiting for the one long ball that ruins Flick’s afternoon.
To stay ahead of the curve on this matchup, track the injury reports for Alavés' central defenders in the week leading up to the game. Their ability to hold a line determines whether Barca wins 4-0 or struggles to a 1-0 scrap. You should also check the weather in Vitoria-Gasteiz; a slick, rainy pitch at Mendizorrotza always favors the team playing for the counter-attack.