Forbidden to complain, having done homework: the hot notes from Alavés-Barça

BarcelonaBarça fell in Vitoria in the first of the three formalities left in La Liga (1-0). Hansi Flick presented a team rich in rotations. Next, some hot takes.

Bad service to Catalan teams? Half the league was pending on Mendizorrotza because Alavés is one of those involved in the fight to avoid relegation. A victory for the Basques against Barça put pressure on Espanyol and Girona, who will also need to grit their teeth to avoid losing their category. And the babazorra victory was a fact. Does it distort the competition that the azulgranas, already champions, show up with second and third units in the remaining matches? Absolutely not. Flick has the right to distribute minutes and reward players like Szczesny. And those who know they are going to the World Cup have the right to a little rest. That's what happens when you've done your homework with three matchdays to spare. If anyone complains, they should have studied.They can no longer be 100. The only incentive left for Barça in this League was to match the 100 points from the 2012-13 season under the orders of the late Tito Vilanova, who will continue to go down in history for this sensational statistic as well. Even so, that Flick's team has been proclaimed champion this year with 91 points and has the option to extend the tally to 97 is outrageous. It is a great merit with such a young, short squad and without as clear a goal-scoring reference as the aforementioned Vilanova had at his disposal – Messi scored 46 goals that season. The culé's top scorer in this League has 30 fewer goals. The movie has changed, yes.

Much better this season. It was noteworthy that Flick also did not start Araújo in this match. What will be the Uruguayan's role in Barça's future? He is a center-back who never plays as a center-back and is already the third option at full-back. And he doesn't exactly earn little. The right flank in Vitoria was for Koundé and Bardghji, who had a very dull night. Bernal was also not inspired. The man from Berga fell asleep during the play for the 1-0 and did not control the midfield. The best Culé in the proceedings was Dani Olmo, who has found physical stability this season. Despite not being indisputable, the man from Terrassa has established himself as the most refined and decisive attacking midfielder in specific moments.

A little message from Flick for the market. The German gave Álvaro Cortés his debut in an official match with Barça's first team. The Aragonese player (2005) partnered Cubarsí from the start and performed well in defense against Toni Martínez, one of the most in-form strikers in the League. La Masia continues to bear fruit and Flick is right to take advantage of it. But in this case, there is a rather clear message between the lines. Cortés is a left-footed center-back, two attributes that this season only the surprising Gerard Martín has had since Iñigo Martínez left for Saudi Arabia. Apart from a center forward, it is evident that Deco must cover this gap in the coming months.