La Liga 2025-25 — Raphinha and Olmo help Barcelona bounce back from defeat at Chelsea

Raphinha set up two early goals and Dani Olmo scored a double as Barcelona fought back to a 3-1 win over Alaves in La Liga on Saturday after poor performances at Chelsea in the Champions League.

Lamine Yamal also produced an inspiring performance to shake off Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in midweek as he was unable to show his usual attacking flair. The 18-year-old star scored the equalizer for Barcelona and twice came close to another goal against Alaves, including a shot from the post late in the first half.

Raphinha, a key player in Barcelona’s home title double last season, looked like his old sharp-witted self at Camp Nou in his first start in two months since recovering from a right hamstring injury. He played limited minutes in a win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend and at Chelsea as a late substitute before Hansi Flick gave him the start.

Raphinha twice raced behind the defense on the left side of the area before setting up passes to Yamal and Olmo to score in the eighth and 26th minutes.

Olmo scored a third goal in stoppage time when he passed a one-two with Yamal before firing home.

Barcelona’s fourth straight win in La Liga puts it two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table before Madrid visit Girona on Sunday.

Barcelona received another boost with the return of Pedri Gonzalez after spending a month without their best playmaker.

With half an hour to go, Pedri came on as a substitute for Raphinha. The Spanish midfielder was out for a month due to a muscle injury in his left leg.

Yamal’s shot into the top of the net canceled out a Pablo Ibanez goal in the opening minute as Barcelona failed to defend an Alaves corner and the attacking midfielder tapped in from close range.

Alaves, which struggled to score all season, turned out to be much more dangerous than expected. With the score 1-1, Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García had to stretch to block a shot from Calebe.

Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi scored twice but Osasuna conceded two late goals for a 2-2 draw in the Balearic Islands.

Published on November 29, 2025