| Busquets has dropped in-between the centre-backs, establishing a 3v2 scenario in the first third | You can watch La Liga live on the go with your iPhone, iPad or Android device through your bet365 account |
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| Trincao later netted what would have been his hat-trick goal but was denied by the offside flag | Additionally, sometimes this meant that a player from the deep had to cover too much ground to put pressure on the Alavés ball-carriers, often giving them enough time to control the ball and deploy the desired pass without obstruction |
Alaves are missing midfielder Pere Pons while centre-back Rodrigo Ely is a doubt with a muscle problem.
| Barca are desperate for another win, sitting 12th in La Liga with just two victories from their first five games, though the teams above them have played more games | Ronald Koeman made some tactical changes in the second half allowing Griezmann move to the tip of the attack, more his natural position, with Messi dropping back to occupy the playmaker role in the middle of the supporting three |
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| Of course, it has to be said that Barcelona were moving the ball with speed and precision, making it really difficult for Alavés to get back into their mid-block without leaving gaps between their lines | Barcelona were deployed in their traditional 4-3-3 formation |
Of course, Rubén Duarte was suspended and Rodrigo Ely saw red in their previous clash with Real Betis.
29| The Blaugrana went down 3-1 in El Clasico at home to Real Madrid last weekend, having also lost at Getafe in their previous match on the road | Neto also replaced Marc-André ter Stegen in goal while Ronald Araújo partnered Clément Lenglet in the backline |
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| It was Alaves that broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Rioja was allowed too much space to charge through and nick it off his boot before tapping in | Only Pedro Pons and Rodrigo Ely are missing for the hosts |
Whether it was vertical or horizontal spacing, the hosts could simply not remain compact enough which gave Barcelona the necessary room to outmanoeuvre them and ultimately pierce right through their lacking structure.
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