Newly promoted Alaves stuns Barcelona
Newly promoted outfit CD Alaves earned its first win of the 2016-17 La Liga season Saturday, and the 2-1 victory came at the expense of reigning champion Barcelona, away from home at Camp Nou.
A first-half goal from Deyverson and a game-winning effort just past the hour mark by Ibai Gomez proved the difference against a second-string Barcelona side.
With Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Andres Iniesta named to the bench, manager Luis Enrique opted to call on returning winger Neymar and newly signed striker Paco Alcacer to play up top alongside Arda Turan. That combination didn't bear fruit, however, as Barcelona was limited to one goal.
An early second-half goal off a corner by Jeremy Mathieu gave Barcelona its only goal of the match.
Mathieu nearly scored on a second corner moments later, but sent his shot wide. It would prove to be one of only a few chances Barcelona mustered, including a last-second Messi chance that went just wide.
1 Alaves have won a La Liga game against Barcelona at the Camp Nou for the second time ever, the first one since 2000 (1-0). Glorioso.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 10, 2016
Barcelona hasn't lost at home to a newly promoted team in La Liga action in six years - almost to the day - when the Blaugrana succumbed to a 2-0 result to Hercules on Sept. 11, 2010.