The title celebrations at the Camp Nou may still be echoing, but the hangover arrived early at the Mendizorrotza Stadium. In a massive shock to the system, Deportivo Alavés secured a gritty 1-0 victory over newly-crowned champions Barcelona on Wednesday night, a result that effectively saves the hosts from relegation while ending any hope of a 100-point season for Hansi Flick’s men.
Just days after clinching their second consecutive La Liga title with a dominant Clásico win, Barcelona arrived in Vitoria looking to maintain their pursuit of the all-time points record. However, with eight changes made to the starting lineup, the Blaugrana lacked their usual clinical edge, failing to score for the first time in 57 league matches.
Diabaté’s Moment of Destiny
The game’s decisive moment came deep into first-half stoppage time. After a frantic scramble following an Alavés corner, Ibrahim Diabaté outmuscled Marc Bernal to fire a low strike into the bottom-left corner. It was a goal born of pure desperation and desire—traits that Alavés displayed in abundance as they fought for their top-flight lives.
Despite the second-half introductions of stars like Pedri, Ferran Torres, and João Cancelo, Barcelona could not find a way past the Basque wall. Alavés, who hadn’t kept a clean sheet in 20 league matches, chose the perfect moment to lock down their defense, surviving late pressure to claim their biggest three points of the year.
Safety Within Reach, Records Lost
For Alavés, the win is a miracle. They have jumped from the relegation mire all the way to 15th place with 40 points, moving one point clear of the bottom three with only two rounds remaining. Forward Toni Martínez admitted after the game that while they “aren’t clear yet,” this was the “giant leap” the club needed to secure another year in La Liga.
On the other side of the pitch, the mood was one of missed opportunities.
• The 100-Point Goal: With this loss, Barcelona can now only reach a maximum of 97 points, leaving the 100-point record held by the 2011-12 Real Madrid and 2012-13 Barcelona squads intact.
• Winning Streak Snapped: The defeat also halted Flick’s 11-match winning streak, preventing him from joining the elite club of managers like Guardiola and Rijkaard who have reached 12 consecutive wins.
While the league trophy is already heading back to Catalonia, this result serves as a reminder that in the “scramble” of a relegation battle, even the champions aren’t safe.
