Sun Feb 02 21:28:06 IST 2025: ## Barça Edges Past Alavés, Closes Gap on Liga Leaders

**Barcelona, Spain** – FC Barcelona notched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Alavés on Sunday, narrowing the gap at the top of La Liga to four points behind Real Madrid. The win comes after Real Madrid’s surprising defeat to Espanyol on Saturday.

A tense match saw Barcelona dominate possession but struggle to break down a resilient Alavés defense. A promising start, highlighted by Lamine Yamal’s dazzling dribbling, failed to translate into early goals. The first half ended goalless despite several Alavés threats, expertly dealt with by Hansi Flick’s offside trap.

A concerning clash of heads between Gavi and Tomás Conechny saw the latter substituted, while Gavi was replaced by Fermín López as a precaution. Despite controlling the game, Barcelona found Alavés goalkeeper Jesús Owono in top form, thwarting several attempts.

The breakthrough finally came in the 61st minute. A combination play between Pedri and Yamal led to a volley, which Lewandowski converted from close range to secure the crucial three points.

Lewandowski summarized the match perfectly post-game: “A game like today was very important. We can’t always win by 3, 4, or 5 goals. Sometimes a team plays deep and doesn’t want to play. But we were patient and vigilant and ultimately scored one goal more than they did.” He emphasized the importance of continuing this winning streak, acknowledging dropped points earlier in the season.

Barcelona now faces Valencia in the cup on Thursday before a crucial match against Sevilla next Sunday. The race for the La Liga title remains fiercely contested, with Atlético Madrid also within striking distance.

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