In a hard-fought match in Vitoria, Barça emerged victorious, showcasing Xavi’s commitment to improvement. Despite the expulsion of Vítor Roque, who scored the third goal for Barça, they managed to maintain control in the second half. Lewandowski and Gündogan contributed with two more goals, while Samu Omorodion scored the lone goal for Vitoria. [1-3: Narration and statistics]

The team’s improvement took a while to materialize, with the midfield being difficult to control in the first half. However, a brilliant combination play involving Pedri, De Jong, and Gündogan resulted in Lewandowski’s goal, breaking the deadlock.

Despite Lewandowski’s goal, Alavés showed resilience and posed a constant threat to Barça. They even had a penalty appeal denied and a clear chance saved by Iñaki Peña. Gündogan then extended Barça’s lead early in the second half, but Samu Omorodion quickly pulled one back for Alavés with a well-placed header.

Despite the setback, Barça remained composed and in control. Vítor Roque, who replaced Gündogan, scored a crucial goal to give Barça a 3-1 lead. However, he was later sent off by Martínez Munuera, leaving Barça with a numerical disadvantage. Alavés pushed for an equalizer but ultimately fell short, handing a victory to Xavi’s side.