Barcelona's title celebrations were put on hold Wednesday night as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Alavés at Mendizorrotza. Head coach Hansi Flick didn't mince words about the result, even if he found reasons for optimism in his team's display.
"I'm disappointed with the result. We wanted to win today, but I saw some positives," Flick said after the match. The German tactician was particularly encouraged by the performances of his younger players, highlighting the debuts and returns that added a silver lining to the loss. "Álvaro made his debut and played very well. Espart and Marqués also played well, as did Bernal after his injury."
The decisive moment came from a set piece, a familiar Achilles' heel for many sides. Barcelona created chances in the first half but couldn't find the breakthrough, and a lapse in concentration from a corner proved costly. "We had chances in the first half too, but in the end we conceded from a corner. We lacked concentration at those moments. We have to accept the result and prepare for Sunday's game," Flick acknowledged.
It wasn't just the scoreline that made this a tough night. Alavés came out with an aggressive, high-intensity approach that disrupted Barcelona's rhythm throughout. "The attitude and mentality were good, but it wasn't an easy match. Alavés played very aggressively, we all saw that," Flick added. "In the end, that's how it is, and we have to accept it."
With the La Liga title already secured, Flick used the opportunity to rotate his squad, resting key players and handing a start to youngster Álvaro Cortés. The Barcelona boss was quick to praise the teenager's composure on the big stage. "Álvaro Cortés has been doing very well. He's a player who has improved a lot and is on the path we want, particularly with aerial duels," Flick noted, signaling that the club's focus on developing young talent remains a priority.
Barcelona will look to bounce back quickly. They return to action on Sunday for their final home game of the season against Real Betis—a chance to give their fans a winning send-off at Camp Nou.