Barcelona after two defeats: Flick's players hold a team meal to reset before Alavés
After eleven straight wins to start the season, Barcelona lost to PSG and then to Real Madrid. The players organised a private team meal with Hansi Flick's staff to rebuild unity, and now face winless Alavés at Camp Nou on Saturday with a long injury list.
Barcelona's perfect start is over, and the response has started off the pitch. After back-to-back defeats, to PSG in the Champions League and to Real Madrid in El Clásico, the first-team squad held a private team meal with Hansi Flick and his staff at the club's training ground this week.
The team meal
According to Mundo Deportivo, it was a player-led idea rather than a board instruction. Senior players, including captain Raphinha, organised it after a commercial photo shoot and asked for it to stay inside the club's facilities. It lasted about 90 minutes.
"It is not about erasing what happened, but about assuming it together," club sources told the paper.
From eleven wins to two defeats
| Start of the season | Eleven straight wins in all competitions |
| Then | Lost to PSG (Champions League) |
| Then | Lost 2-1 to Real Madrid at home (LaLiga) — Clásico report |
| LaLiga position | Still top, with Atlético within two points and Real Madrid three behind, according to reports |
Losing twice in a week has not cost Barcelona first place, but the gap is small, and Atlético away on 8 November is coming.
Barcelona v Alavés: the essentials
| Kick-off | Saturday 31 October, 21:00 CET (20:00 UK / 04:00 Sunday Beijing) |
| Venue | Spotify Camp Nou |
| Alavés form | No win in five LaLiga games; last result 1-1 v Málaga |
| Head-to-head | 51 meetings: Barcelona 36 wins, Alavés 8, draws 7 |
Barcelona injuries
The injury list is long:
- Out: Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Dani Olmo, Roony Bardghji, Xavi Espart.
- Doubts: Raphinha and Jules Koundé, who is racing to be fit.
With Christensen and García both out, Flick is short of centre-backs, and Koundé's fitness matters at the back as well as on the right.
Alavés are without Mikel Rodríguez and Facundo Garcés.
Why this week matters
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| Sat 31 Oct | Barcelona v Alavés (LaLiga) |
| Tue 3 Nov | Barcelona v Aston Villa (Champions League) |
| Sun 8 Nov | Atlético Madrid v Barcelona (LaLiga) |
Alavés are the most comfortable-looking of the three games on paper, which is exactly why Barcelona need a win: a third defeat in a row before Villa and Atlético would turn a bad week into a crisis.
FAQ
What time is Barcelona v Alavés? Saturday 31 October at 21:00 CET (20:00 UK, 04:00 Sunday in Beijing), at Camp Nou.
Why did Barcelona hold a team meal? To rebuild confidence and unity after defeats to PSG and Real Madrid. It was organised by the players, not the board, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Are Barcelona still top of LaLiga? Yes, according to reports, with Atlético Madrid within two points and Real Madrid three behind.
Who is injured for Barcelona? Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Dani Olmo, Roony Bardghji and Xavi Espart are out; Raphinha and Jules Koundé are doubts.
