Barca one step closer to title as Alena and Suarez down Alaves

Barcelona moved to within touching distance of the Spanish Liga title with a 2-0 win over Alaves that saw Carles Alena and Luis Suarez find the net.

A Valencia win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening will see the Catalans claim their eighth league title in 11 years, with Ernesto Valverde’s men now holding a 12-point lead at the top of the table.

Barcelona struggled to get going in the first half, although Suarez and Philippe Coutinho both spurned good chances to put the away side ahead. It took until the second half for Barca to break the deadlock, though, with Alena converting a low finish following a wonderful passing move and dummy from Suarez.

The advantage was doubled just minutes later after some VAR confusion. Gerard Pique had initially looked to have made it 2-0 only for the goal to be chalked off for offside, then a penalty awarded for handball. Suarez duly converted from 12-yards.

Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi were brought off the bench, but the game had already been won by that point. Now, Barcelona must wait to find out whether or not they will be crowned champions before their next fixture against Levante on Saturday.

Valverde has made the call to rest Messi at various points over the course of the season. On almost every occasion, Barcelona have needed the Argentinean to come off the bench and rescue them. However, this time, 2-0 up with 30 minutes left to play, they didn’t need Messi to bail them. And yet Valverde still chose to throw him on when it surely would have been wiser to rest his best player ahead of some big Champions League fixtures.

Alena could have chosen to go out on loan in January. However, the 21-year-old decided to stay at Camp Nou and earn himself a place in the Barcelona first team fold. This was another opportunity for Alena to show that he belongs at the club and he took it with both hands, not just scoring the opening goal for the Catalans, but playing a role in much of the positive attacking play from the away side. Alena’s Barcelona future is a bright one and he showed as much this evening.

Alaves - Pacheco 6, Duarte 5, Ely 6, Laguardia 6, Navarro 5, Vigaray 5, Pina 5, Wakaso 5, Jony 6, Baston 5, Rolan 5. Subs - Brasanac 5, Twumasi 5, Guidetti 4.

Barcelona - Ter Stegen 5, Semedo 6, Pique 7, Umtiti 6, Roberto 6, Busquets 5, Vidal 7, Alena 8, Dembele 6, Coutinho 8, Suarez 7. Subs - Alba 6, Messi 7, Arthur 4.

6’ Double chance! That really should have been the opening goal for Barcelona. Suarez was clean through, but his shot was saved by Pacheco and then Coutinho had his follow up effort blocked as well..

54’ GOAL! Alaves 0-1 Barcelona: What a goal and what a way to break the deadlock! It was a lovely passing move from Barcelona with Suarez's dummy inside the penalty box presenting Alena with the chance to convert into the back of the net. He makes no mistake in finishing in the bottom, left corner.

58’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... IS IT? Barcelona have the ball in the back of the net, with Pique bundling it home after a bit of a scramble. But we're going to a VAR review, here. What will the officials give?

59’ PENALTY KICK TO BARCELONA! The goal has been chalked off, but a handball in the box has resulted in a Barca spot kick.

60’ GOAL! Alaves 0-2 Barcelona: That should do it for Barcelona. Pacheco actually guessed the right way and might even have got a hand on the strike from Suarez, but the direction was too far into the far corner and the goalkeeper couldn't keep it out. Barca have a two-goal lead.

64’ Messi is on! Just what Alaves didn't want to see after conceding that second goal.... Messi is on.

79’ Vidal should score! Suarez plays a wonderful ball to the back post where the Chilean midfielder had lost his marker. But Vidal manages to put his header over when he should have scored.

Luis Suarez has scored his last eight penalty kicks for Barcelona in all competitions.