A 0-5 for Alavés to close the 'COVID League': Barça gives
According to Mundodeportivo.
Context
Lionel Messi, with his outstanding performance, not only secured his 7th Pichichi, but also reaffirmed his importance for Barcelona. His ability to decide games and score goals will be vital to the team's future in La Liga and European competition.
Why this matters
Barcelona's 0-5 defeat of Alavés not only sealed an atypical season marked by the pandemic, but also highlighted the team's offensive capacity, with Messi shining as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals. This result reinforces Barça's position as one of the main forces in Spanish football, even in challenging times.
Main conclusions
- A 0-5 at Alavés to close the 'COVID League': Barça gives.
- 2020 record: Barcelona beat Alavés 0-5 at the end of La Liga interrupted by the pandemic.
- A 0-5 at Alavés to close the COVID League.
The longest La Liga of the 20th century ended on July 19, 2020, in a year marked by COVID-19 and more than three months of competitive suspension. Barcelona ended this edition at the Mendizorrotza Stadium, in Vitoria, with a convincing performance and a 0-5 defeat against Alavés, in a game in which Lionel Messi shone with a brace and confirmed his title as the competition's top scorer.
The game film began with Ansu Fati opening the scoring, finishing a positional attack after an assist from Messi. Shortly afterwards, it was 0-2: the Argentine took advantage of a play created on the right, with a center from Sergi Roberto and a sweet pass from Riqui Puig; Even after a faulty shot by Luis Suárez, the ball fell to Messi, who feinted and beat goalkeeper Roberto. Until half-time, Barça took it to 0-3 with Suárez touching down after Jordi Alba's cross, in an action started by Messi's opening to the left flank – a classic combination for the Catalans in the recent era.
At the restart, Quique Setién's team didn't take their foot off the accelerator. In the quarter of an hour of the second half, Nélson Semedo made it 0-4, again with a pass from Riqui Puig, and the victory was sealed by Messi, who scored twice by deflecting a cross from Jordi Alba following an opening by Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder acted as a midfielder after replacing Sergio Busquets, helping to provide fluidity to the Blaugrana's ball flow.
This fifth goal set Messi's personal tally at 25 goals in the 2019/20 League, enough to lift the Pichichi. It was the seventh time that the Argentine won the top scorer trophy in the Spanish championship, surpassing the legendary record of Telmo Zarra, who held six. Real Madrid's Karim Benzema ended the season with 21 goals.
Despite the result's expression, the victory in Vitoria had little impact on the table. Yes, it served as a balm after a sequence of bad results that had already left Barcelona with no chance of winning the title. Setién valued above all the sensations and the reinforcement of the team's confidence, highlighting that the essential thing was to find each other again and believe that they could do better.
Barcelona finished that La Liga in second place, five points behind Real Madrid. A month after the defeat against Alavés, the Catalans would end the season by participating in the Champions League against Bayern. However, what remains in the memory is the categorical conclusion of a unique and atypical edition of the Spanish championship, with a 0-5 that crowned Messi as top scorer and brought some spirit back to the Blaugrana team as they said goodbye to the so-called ‘COVID League’.
What happens next
With the La Liga season over, Barcelona are now preparing for next season, where it will be crucial to maintain the team's form and cohesion. The convincing performance against Alavés could serve as a morale boost for the players, while the club's board must focus on reinforcements to ensure better performance next season.
Frequently asked questions
What was the result of the game between Barcelona and Alavés?
Barcelona beat Alavés 0-5.
Who scored the goals in Barcelona's victory over Alavés?
The goals were scored by Ansu Fati, Lionel Messi (2), Luis Suárez and Nélson Semedo.
How did Barcelona's victory impact the La Liga table?
Barcelona's victory consolidated their position in the table, ending the season with a convincing performance.
When was the game between Barcelona and Alavés?
The game took place on July 19, 2020.
What is Barcelona's next game after the victory over Alavés?
The article does not mention Barcelona's next game after this victory.