Barcelona were aiming to take advantage of Real Madrid’s loss at Espanyol to go to within four points of their rivals, and they have done so, albeit without much conviction. They did not play

Barcelona secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Alavés, with Frenkie de Jong scoring in the 88th minute to seal three crucial points. The match reflected Barcelona’s ongoing struggles in attack, but the result was enough to keep them alive in the LaLiga title race.