Barcelona temporarily claims the top spot in La Liga after a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Deportivo Alavés at the Camp Nou on Saturday night in Matchday 14.
An Exceptional Performance Puts Barcelona on Top
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The result lifted Barcelona to 34 points, temporarily placing them at the top of La Liga, pending the outcome of Real Madrid’s match against Girona on Sunday evening. Real Madrid currently has 32 points, making the title race incredibly tight.
While the Catalan side delivered a strong collective performance, several individual moments stood out, most notably the exceptional display by Gerard Martín, who played in central defense despite being a natural left-back.
Coach Hansi Flick Praises Martín After His Outstanding Performance Out of Position
In an unexpected move, coach Hansi Flick deployed Gerard Martín at center-back instead of his usual left-back position, a tactical gamble. Despite this, the Spanish player delivered a superb performance that caught everyone’s attention, proving to be one of the standout defenders in the match. While other players, such as Lamine Yamal and Rafinha, also impressed, the German coach reserved his highest praise for Martín.
Hansi Flick, who is well aware of the importance of tactical versatility in matches, expressed his admiration for Martín’s performance in an unfamiliar role, highlighting the player’s remarkable ability to adapt to any tactical task assigned to him. This reflects Martín’s tactical maturity and his constant readiness to contribute anywhere on the pitch, earning him praise and recognition from the coach. Here are his key stats from the match:
✅ 127 touches
✅ 103 out of 111 successful passes (92.3% accuracy)
✅ 5 out of 10 successful long balls
✅ 4 out of 5 successful tackles
✅ 7 out of 8 duels won
✅ 2 out of 4 aerial duels won
✅ 5 clearances
✅ 2 ball recoveries
✅ 1 interception
✅ 8.0 Match rating
Yamal and Rafinha’s Brilliance Enhance Barcelona’s Attacking Prowess
Despite Flick’s praise for Gerard Martín, Barcelona’s attacking brilliance in the match cannot be overlooked, particularly from stars Lamine Yamal and Rafinha. Yamal, who demonstrated his exceptional ability to exploit opportunities and score goals, was one of the most prominent attacking players, while Rafinha continued to deliver a high level of performance, remaining a constant source of trouble for Alavés’ defense.
