Staff Reporter.
Ilkay Gundogan played a starring role as Barcelona beat Alaves in their first La Liga game since Xavi announced he will step down as boss in the summer.
Barca went in front when Robert Lewandowski latched on to Gundogan’s pass to dink the ball in.
Gundogan then fired in to double their lead after the break, before Samu Omorodion’s header made it 2-1.
Substitute Victor Roque sealed victory when he converted Hector Fort’s cross, only to be sent off nine minutes later.
The 18-year-old Brazilian picked up two yellow cards in quick succession, but Barcelona were able to see out the final 18 minutes with 10 men for their third successive win in La Liga.
Barca remain third in the table, seven points behind leaders Real Madrid.
“We knew how to compete and we were very solid at the back. The pity is that goal we conceded, because we had the game under control at 2-0 and within minutes they scored. We defended the box badly and that makes me angry, because we worked hard,” said Barça coach Xavi Hernandez.
“But overall we played a very good and very mature game,” added the coach in his second game after last week’s announcement of his departure at the end of the season.
“We have two victories after that decision, I said it was necessary and here is the reaction of the team. We have been very effective, something we had lacked all season. It’s an important victory.”