In a stunning turn of events, Barcelona's perfect post-title run came to an abrupt halt as Alaves secured a crucial 1-0 victory at Mendizorroza, lifting themselves out of the relegation zone in the process.

Fresh off clinching the La Liga crown on Sunday, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick opted for a heavily rotated lineup, giving valuable minutes to fringe players like Wojciech Szczesny, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, and Marc Bernal. Youngster Alvaro Cortes even made his debut in central defense alongside Pau Cubarsi. However, the disjointed performance that followed was hardly surprising given the wholesale changes.

The first half was a cagey affair with few clear-cut opportunities, but the game's decisive moment arrived in stoppage time. Ibrahim Diabate, the 26-year-old Ivorian striker on loan from Swedish side GAIS, produced a sensational close-range volley to send the home crowd into raptures just before the break.

Alaves then executed a perfect game plan in the second half, sitting deep and absorbing pressure with disciplined defending. Barcelona, lacking their usual attacking rhythm, managed just two shots on target – both speculative long-range efforts from Dani Olmo and Marc Bernal. The hosts held firm to claim a massive three points in their fight for survival.

While Barcelona's motivation may have dipped after their title celebrations, this result speaks volumes about Alaves' resilience. The victory lifts them to 15th place, now one point clear of the drop zone with just two matches remaining. Next up for Alaves is a trip to already-relegated Real Oviedo, where another win could secure their top-flight status for another season.

For Barcelona, attention now turns to hosting Real Betis, but this defeat serves as a reminder that in football, celebrations can quickly give way to reality – especially when complacency creeps in.