Barcelona Visits Alaves Amid Title Celebrations

Barcelona travels to face Deportivo Alaves at the Mendizorrotza stadium on Tuesday evening at 10:30 PM local time, in a fixture corresponding to matchday 36 of the Spanish league. The visitors arrive in a festive mood after clinching the La Liga title for the 29th time in their history, a feat secured with a victory over traditional rivals Real Madrid in the Clasico last Sunday.

The Blaugrana celebrated their second consecutive league crown under German manager Hansi Flick with an open-top bus parade through the streets of Barcelona. They currently sit atop the standings with 91 points, holding a 14-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who have 77 points. Alaves, in contrast, languish in 18th place with 37 points.

Relegation Battle for Alaves

Alaves enters the match following a 1-1 draw against Elche in the previous round, leaving them two points behind the team in 17th place in a direct fight to avoid relegation. The Basque side faces two decisive matches in the final two rounds against Real Oviedo and Rayo Vallecano, where any slip-up could severely complicate their survival hopes, particularly if they lose to Barcelona.

At home this season, Alaves has collected 24 points from 17 matches. Barcelona, meanwhile, boasts the best away record in the league, having earned 37 points from 17 road games. Historically, the Catalans hold the upper hand, having defeated Alaves 3-1 in the first-leg encounter and stringing together six consecutive victories against the Basque club, including a 3-0 win at the same venue last season.