La Liga round-up: Barcelona bounce back with win over Alves

BARCELONA, Spain – Raphinha set up two early goals and Dani Olmo scored a brace as Barcelona battled back from a poor performance at Chelsea in the Champions League for a 3-1 win over Alves in La Liga on Saturday.

Lamin Yamel also put in an inspired performance to end Barcelona’s 3-0 loss at Stamford Bridge, when he was unable to show his usual attacking flair. The 18-year-old star scored Barcelona’s equalizer and twice went close to adding another goal against Alves, including a shot off the post late in the first half.

Rafina twice ran behind the defense on the left side of the area before squaring passes to Yamal and Olmo to score in the eighth and 26th minutes.

Olmo added a third goal in stoppage time when he worked a two-pass combination with Yamal before firing home.

Raphinha shines in the return of 11

A key player in Barcelona’s domestic title double last season, Rafinha looked like his old self in his first start at the Camp Nou in two months after recovering from a right hamstring injury. He played limited minutes in last weekend’s win over Athletic Bilbao and was given a start by Hansi Flick as a late substitute at Chelsea.

Flick praised Raphinha for his effort in attack and defence, above all because his pressure was contagious among his teammates.

“Rafa (Rafinha) is a player who is dynamic,” Falk said. “We miss him.”

Barcelona’s fourth straight win in La Liga moved them two points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the standings before Madrid visit Girona on Sunday.

Rafina said that the team can be better.

“Folk believes we are not playing at our best, and I agree,” Raphinha said. “However, the important thing today was to win. We know that we are not at our best, but we are working and I am sure that we will bring back our best game this season.”

Barcelona received another boost with the return of Pedro Gonzalez after spending a month without their top player.

Padre left half an hour and went to Rafinha’s place. The Spanish midfielder was out for a month with a left leg muscle injury.

Yamal’s shot into the top of the net was denied by an opening-minute goal by Paulo Ebenez, after Barcelona failed to defend an Alves corner and the attacking midfielder pounced at close range.

Alaves, who struggled to score all season, proved more dangerous than expected. With the score at 1-1, Barcelona goalkeeper Juan Garcia stepped up to block a shot by Caleb.

Mallorca striker Vedat Merke scored twice but Osasuna grabbed two late goals for a 2-2 draw in the Balearic Islands.