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Babajide Orevba
– Alaves vs Barcelona had all the drama expected of a La Liga classic
– Luis Rioja opened the scoring in the first half, but Griezmann equalised in the 2nd
– Frustrated Messi was shown a yellow card, but Alaves’ Jota was sent-off in the course of the game
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Barcelona drop points again in the La Liga despite playing 10-man Deportivo Alaves for more than 30 minutes.
Alaves managed a 1-1 draw with the Catalan giants on Saturday night, October 31, in a match full of drama from start to finish.
The hosts would have gotten the lead in the 16th minute after Rioja raced down the left from a glorious ball from Deyverson and hit a fine cross into the path of Édgar Méndez, whose shot was on target but not venomous enough to trouble Neto.
And two minutes later Messi was denied after the Argentine receive the ball on the edge of the area but was swarmed by four blue and white shirts as he loses possession.
But Barcelona came close in the 22nd after Florian Lejeune stops Messi’s low-drive free-kick effort with Pacheco well beaten.
It was Alaves that broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Rioja was allowed too much space to charge through and nick it off his boot before tapping in. Alaves 1-0.
Barcelona captain Messi looked frustrated and was shown a yellow card for pointing out to the ref that every time he gets the ball he’s being hauled back by the nearest defender.
Alaves vs Barcelona has seen Barcelona drop points yet again.
Photo: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce
Source: Getty Images
Jota Peleteiro was sent off in the 62nd minute as the hosts were reduced to 10-men following a high boot at Piqué and the midfielder got his marching orders for a second yellow.
Ronald Koeman made some tactical changes in the second half allowing Griezmann move to the tip of the attack, more his natural position, with Messi dropping back to occupy the playmaker role in the middle of the supporting three.
The decision paid-off in the 63rd minute after the Frenchman beat the offside trap and clipped a shot over Pacheco to level. 1-1 Barcelona.
In stoppage-time, Messi would have gotten the win following a trademark run across goal and he went for the far corner, but went just wide. It ended; Alaves 1-1 Barcelona.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Eden Hazard was the man of the match as he grabbed his first goal of the season in Real Madrid’s convincing 4-1 win against Huesca.
The Belgian who has endured a nightmare since joining Real Madrid from Chelsea last summer opened the scoring for Real Madrid five minutes before half time.
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