- Alaves Shock Barcelona to Boost Survival Hopes as La Liga Relegation Battle Intensifies
Newly crowned La Liga champions Barcelona suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Deportivo Alaves on Wednesday night, as Spain’s relegation battle took another dramatic turn with two matches left to play.
At the Estadio Mendizorroza in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Ibrahim Diabate struck the decisive goal just before halftime to hand Alaves a priceless victory in their fight to remain in the top flight.
Barcelona dominated possession for long periods but struggled to convert control into clear chances, while Alaves defended with discipline and took full advantage of one of the visitors’ lapses late in the first half.
The breakthrough came deep into stoppage time before the interval after Barcelona failed to clear a corner. Antonio Blanco headed the ball back into the danger area, where Diabate reacted quickest to finish from close range and send the home crowd into celebration.
The win lifted Alaves to 15th place on 40 points after 36 matches, moving them out of the relegation zone and giving them renewed belief heading into the final two rounds of the campaign.
For Barcelona, already confirmed as champions, the defeat was a reminder of how difficult the closing weeks of the season can be against opponents still fighting for survival. Despite their title-winning form across the campaign, they were unable to break down a determined Alaves side that protected its lead with urgency and organisation.
The result also underlined the extraordinary congestion at the lower end of the table, where the margin between safety and relegation remains dangerously thin.
Elsewhere, Sevilla delivered one of the night’s most impressive comebacks, recovering from two goals down to beat third-placed Villarreal 3-2 away from home.
Sevilla appeared to be heading for a damaging defeat after falling 2-0 behind inside the opening 20 minutes, but goals from Oso and Kike Salas brought them level before halftime. Nigerian striker Akor Adams then completed the turnaround in the 72nd minute, scoring his 10th La Liga goal of the season to give Sevilla a vital win.
The victory moved Sevilla up to 10th place, four points above the relegation zone, offering some breathing space in a campaign that has kept them uncomfortably close to danger.
Espanyol also strengthened their survival push with a significant 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. Pere Milla opened the scoring in the 69th minute before Kike Garcia sealed the result in stoppage time.
The win moved Espanyol three points clear of the drop zone, while dealing a blow to Athletic Bilbao’s hopes of securing European qualification.
Getafe, meanwhile, confirmed their place in next season’s La Liga after Martin Satriano scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Mallorca. The result ensured Getafe’s safety, but left Mallorca still under pressure and outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Real Oviedo have already been relegated following results earlier in the week, but the race to avoid joining them remains wide open.
Four clubs from Girona in 19th to Elche in 16th are level on 39 points, with Girona still holding a game in hand. With just two rounds of fixtures remaining, as many as 12 teams remain mathematically involved in one of La Liga’s tightest relegation fights in recent years.
For Alaves, the victory over Barcelona could prove decisive. For the rest of the survival contenders, it is a warning that the battle is far from settled.
