A day he'll never forget: the immediate aftermath of the Barça-Alabès match

BarcelonaNot a very flashy victory, but Barça's victory in the team's second match at the new Camp Nou (3-1). Here are four quick notes from the match.

Welcome back, Raphinha (and Pedri). How he's been missed! In his first start after two months out with injury and two setbacks, Raphinha reminded everyone why he's so essential: not only did he play a decisive role in Barça's first two goals, but he also infused the team with his energy. He made constant runs and, above all, worked tirelessly on pressing. He even exposed his teammates in one instance, making three sprints to challenge the opposing defense and turning around, frustrated, to find none of his forwards keeping up. He played 60 minutes, as planned. Pedri returned in the second half. The fans gave them both a standing ovation. They are sorely missed.

Waiting period with Marc Bernal. Flick has given him his first start of the season. The midfielder from Berga hasn't played more than 45 minutes on any occasion since returning from his serious knee injury, which sidelined him for a year. The last time he played 45 minutes was in the friendly between Catalonia and Palestine, where he was the only Barcelona player the club allowed to travel with the Catalan national team to get some match fitness. This is precisely what Bernal lacks: match fitness and a competitive rhythm. He had a solid performance: 27 successful passes out of 28, 14 of them in the opposition's half. In two weeks there will be a Copa del Rey match, and he'll have another opportunity to start. For now, it doesn't seem like Flick is counting on him much.

Doubts remain about the defense. It was vital to secure the three points against Alavés and keep the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table to recover from the defeat in London, but Barça have once again raised many doubts. While it's true that the game was more under control in the second half – despite the Basque side having a few near misses towards the end that could have caused a scare – in the first half, Alavés created five clear-cut chances. One of them was a very clear opportunity, a shot from the ground that Joan Garcia saved brilliantly. Chelsea overwhelmed you, but it's unacceptable that a mid-to-lower-table team can get so much pressure on your area at the Camp Nou. Especially considering your recent form.

A special anniversary for Lamine Yamal. It might not be his most beautiful goal, but the Barcelona star already knows what it's like to score at the Camp Nou. He did it in his third match. The first was before he moved to Montjuïc, when he debuted, playing seven minutes on April 29, 2023. He was fifteen years and 290 days old at the time. Last week, he played his first match at the stadium, now of legal age, and in his third game, he scored his first goal. On the same day the club celebrated its 126th anniversary, Lamine Yamal looked sharp. The winger from Rocafonda once again displayed flashes of quality and skillful moves that made fans jump out of their seats. The post denied him a brace. Seeing him increasingly recovered from his groin injury is one of the best pieces of news.