Barcelona had fewer shots than usual, but better ones, in 6-1 win

Barcelona beat Alaves 6-1 at Spotify Camp Nou, with most of the ball and chances of higher quality than their usual.

Barcelona were four goals ahead at half-time, and the contest was effectively over before the second half began. Raphinha opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and Fermín López was involved in three of the first four goals, scoring one and setting up two. Lamine Yamal added the fourth on the stroke of the interval, in a first half where the visitors saw very little of the ball.

Barcelona had the ball for most of the night, and that was more than usual for them. Their home average is 69.6% of possession, so their 77% was a clear step above their norm. Alaves had 23%, against an away average of 44.2%, which meant they were pushed back far more than they normally are. Possession on its own proves little, though, so the question is what Barcelona did with it.

Barcelona actually fired fewer shots than they usually do, but the chances they made were better. Their 13 attempts sit below a home average of 20.6, yet ten of those came from inside the penalty area. Expected goals, a measure of how clear a chance was judged to be based on where and how it was struck, came to 3.24, above their usual 2.86 at home. Alaves were the mirror image, with seven shots against a usual 12.7 and expected goals of 0.58, well under their away norm of 1.41.

The defensive side of the story is just as clear. The quality of chances Alaves gave away was far above their usual 0.92 per away game, and they conceded six goals where they usually concede 1.1. Barcelona conceded only one, which is ordinary for them, so the lopsided scoreline came from Barcelona's attack and an Alaves defence that could not contain it.

Across the league, a typical side in these matches takes 13.5 shots and the average game produces 3 goals, so this one, with seven scored in total, more than doubled that goal count. Barcelona's six goals sit well above their home average of 3.7, which is where the match moves from ordinary to striking. Lamine Yamal's contribution was the sharpest: two goals and an assist, rated 9.2, with three of his six attempts on target.

Yamal's second goal, in the 64th minute, was confirmed by the video referee after review. Anthony Gordon added another at 81, and Alaves' only goal came from Mariano Díaz in the 84th minute, by which time the match had long been decided.

Barcelona are second in the table with 27 points from ten games and nine wins, while Alaves are seventh with 12 points, from three wins, three draws and four defeats.

Player of the matchFermín1 goal · 2 assists9.5

Lamine Yamal2 goals · 1 assist9.2

Raphinha2 goals8.7

Rodri1 assist7.7