Frenkie De Jong scored a late winner as Barcelona edged past struggling Alaves to move up to fifth in La Liga.
The Netherlands midfielder converted Ferran Torres’ first-time cross with three minutes remaining.
Xavi’s side dominated possession but it was Alaves, 19th in the table, who had the better chances.
Pere Pons fired straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen shortly before half-time, while Joselu flashed a header wide in the second half.
The win moves Barca to within a point of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, who they host at the Nou Camp next weekend.
Barca looked weary after back-to-back extra-time defeats over the past week, to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup last weekend and Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
They enjoyed 76% possession and had 10 corners to Alaves’ one, but struggled to create many clear-cut openings.
A turgid match looked to be drifting to a goalless draw when Torres, signed from Manchester City earlier this month, ran onto Jordi Alba’s chipped ball over the top and laid the ball back for De Jong to finish from close range.
Line-ups
Alavés
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pacheco
- 21Aguirregabiria
- 5Laguardia
- 22Lejeune
- 27López
- 16Escalante
- 8PinaSubstituted forMoyaat 88′minutes
- 25Remeseiro Salgueiro
- 20PonsSubstituted forDe la Fuenteat 72′minutes
- 11RiojaSubstituted forMéndezat 90′minutes
- 9Joselu
Substitutes
- 2Rodríguez
- 4Miazga
- 7Sylla
- 13Sivera
- 14García Alonso
- 15Moya
- 17Méndez
- 18Pellistri
- 19Martín
- 24De la Fuente
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 2Dest
- 3Piqué
- 4Araújo
- 18Alba
- 21de Jong
- 5Busquets
- 16González LópezSubstituted forLengletat 90′minutes
- 19Torres
- 17de JongSubstituted forJutglàat 84′minutes
- 33EzzalzouliSubstituted forGonzález Iglesiasat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Puig Martí
- 8Alves da Silva
- 12Braithwaite
- 13Murara Neto
- 14González Iglesias
- 15Lenglet
- 22Mingueza
- 29Jutglà
- 31Balde Martínez
- 36Tenas
- Referee:
- Jorge Figueroa Vázquez
- Attendance:
- 14,056
Live Text
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Match ends, Alaves 0, Barcelona 1.
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Second Half ends, Alaves 0, Barcelona 1.
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Attempt saved. Edgar Méndez (Alaves) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jason with a cross.
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Corner, Alaves. Conceded by Ronald Araújo.
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Attempt blocked. Joselu (Alaves) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Miguel De la Fuente.
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Jordi Alba (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Víctor Laguardia (Alaves).
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Substitution, Alaves. Edgar Méndez replaces Luis Rioja.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Clément Lenglet replaces Pedri.
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Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Florian Lejeune (Alaves).
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Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
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Joselu (Alaves) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Alaves. Toni Moya replaces Tomás Pina.
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Goal! Alaves 0, Barcelona 1. Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ferran Torres.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Ferran Jutglà replaces Luuk de Jong.
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Jordi Alba (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Joselu (Alaves) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jason with a cross.
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Foul by Nico González (Barcelona).
