FC Barcelona Takes Advantage of 'One-Zeroism' in LaLiga Again

FC Barcelona won a league match by 1-0 in LaLiga EA Sports 130 days later. The victory against Alavés was only the second of the season relying on 'one-zeroism', the hallmark of the team that won the tournament in 2022-23 with Xavi Hernández on the bench. Under Hansi Flick, this result had only been seen in matchday 7, against Getafe on September 25.

The flow of that match was very similar to Sunday’s. A hard-fought game, with few chances and a solitary goal from Robert Lewandowski to secure three points for the culés in Montjuïc. In fact, this is only the third time that the azulgrana team has won a home match without conceding goals in the tournament (the first was the 7-0 against Valladolid), and in total, there have been five league matches with a clean sheet so far in the 2024-25 season.

Barça Leaves Behind Their Defensive Ghosts Against Alavés

Away from home, Barça could only beat Alavés (0-3) and Real Madrid (0-4) without conceding. Interestingly, both visits were consecutive, and the thrashing in the Clásico (on October 26) was the last victory for the Catalans in LaLiga while keeping a clean sheet. Since then, 99 days (three months and a week) have passed, along with eleven matchdays.

After the match, Hansi Flick praised the team’s reaction in the second half, as well as the opportunity to close the gap with the leader Real Madrid and get back into the title race. "We had a lot of pressure, a lot, and we responded very well in the second half. Alavés defends very well. We did a good job, we deserved the three points," pointed out the azulgrana coach. In the 2022-23 season, Barça was champion with 88 points. 33 of those came from victories by 1-0 (11, 5 at home and 6 away).